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Mar 2015

PROVERBS

ADULT SABBATH SCHOOL BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Washington, D.C.

Ottawa

GREENLAND

BAHAMAS

U. S. A.

BERMUDA

MIDWAY ISLANDS

Papua

New

Guinea

Guam

Federated States

of Micronesia

JOHNSTON ISLAND

CANADA

PACIFIC

OCEAN

ARCTIC OCEAN

ATLANTIC

OCEAN

MEXICO

CONFERENCE CHURCHES COMPANIES MEMBERSHIP POPULATION

Atlantic Union 572 70 113,625 34,442,859

Canada 372 73 66,789 35,256,000

Columbia Union 712 77 140,298 51,011,461

Lake Union 502 58 85,778 35,273,432

Mid-America Union 456 67 67,618 26,837,795

North Pacific Union 440 67 99,033 14,229,323

Pacific Union 699 118 225,921 51,973,265

Southern Union 1,102 185 273,855 62,801,941

Southwestern Union 574 92 109,504 39,655,924

Attached Field:

Guam-Micronesia 20 11 5,068 410,000

Total: 5,450 818 1,187,514 351,892,000

Statistics as of December 2013

PROJECTS

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Bath houses and restrooms for Camp Polaris

Youth Camp, Alaska

Gyms for Adventist schools, Micronesia

CHILDREN'S PROJECT: Mattresses for the

children at Camp Polaris

HAWAII

Contents

1 The Call of Wisdom—December 27–January 2 6

2 From Ears to Feet—January 3–9 14

3 A Matter of Life and Death—January 10–16 22

4 Divine Wisdom—January 17–23 30

5 The Blessings of the Righteous—January 24–30 38

6 What You Get Is Not What You See—January 31–February 6 46

7 Dealing With Fights—February 7–13 56

8 Words of Wisdom—February 14–20 64

9 Words of Truth—February 21–27 72

10 Behind the Mask—February 28–March 6 80

11 Living by Faith—March 7–13 88

12 The Humility of the Wise—March 14–20 96

13 Women and Wine—March 21–27 104

Editorial Office 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904

Come visit us at our Web site: http://www.absg.adventist.org

Principal Contributor

Jacques B. Doukhan

Editor

Clifford R. Goldstein

Associate Editor

Soraya Homayouni

Publication Manager

Lea Alexander Greve

Editorial Assistant

Sharon Thomas-Crews

Pacic Press

Coordinator

Wendy Marcum

Art Director and Illustrator

Lars Justinen

Design

Justinen Creative Group

Sabbath School Bible Study Guide may be edited, altered, modied, adapted, translated, re-

produced, or published by any person or entity without prior written authorization from the Gen-

eral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

. The division offices of the General Conference of

Seventh-day Adventists

are authorized to arrange for translation of the Adult Sabbath School

Bible Study Guide, under specic guidelines. Copyright of such translations and their publication

shall remain with the General Conference. “Seventh-day Adventist,” “Adventist,” and the ame

logo are registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

and may

not be used without prior authorization from the General Conference.

Words of the Wise

hile many books of the Bible are filled with deep spiritual and

theological truths, the book of Proverbs is filled with practical and

down-to-earth advice for daily living.

Brief, well-balanced, poetic, salty, and often humorous, the proverbs are uni-

versal, are easy to memorize, and make their points well, sometimes even more

efficiently than do eloquent speeches and rigorous argumentation.

For instance, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise”

(Prov. 6:6, NKJV). Or: “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a conten-

tious and an angry woman” (Prov. 21:19). Or: “If your enemy is hungry, give him

food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap

burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you” (Prov. 25:21, 22, NIV).

Who is going to forget those types of images?

The book of Proverbs is a witness to the wisdom that had been accumulated over

generations. Its human authors are referred to as King Solomon (Prov. 1:1–9:18,

10:1–22:16, Proverbs 25–29); as nonidentified “wise men” from the ancient Near

Eastern world (Prov. 22:17–24:22, 24:23–34); and as the non-Israelite Agur (Prov.

30:1–33). The book even acknowledges King Hezekiah’s editorial contributions

(Prov. 25:1). In some cases, too, the book reflects ancient Near Eastern texts, espe-

cially those from ancient Egypt.

Yet the book of Proverbs is the Word of God, because it was under divine

inspiration that the authors pulled their materials together. Although God is rarely

explicitly mentioned in the texts, He is always present: wherever we are in the market-

place, or as we speak, eat, drink, work, buy, sell, socialize, and love, the Lord is there.

The God of Proverbs is not just the God of a religious person, whether a priest or a

worshiper in the pew. Godliness is here put into working clothes.

The book of Proverbs also teaches about what it

means to fear God (Prov. 1:7, 31:30), not just in church

but as we go about our daily lives, because the way we

live speaks louder than the way we preach, pray, or even

sacrifice (Prov. 28:9, 15:8).

In Proverbs, “wisdom” is revealed when you acknowl-

edge the Lord “in all your ways” (Prov. 3:6, NKJV); that

is, wisdom is living in faith and in obedience; it’s about

what it means to be human before the God of Creation.

From the book of Proverbs we will learn how to be wise, but concretely, in practical

ways. The book answers such questions as What and how should I teach my children?

How can I be happy and successful? Why do I have money problems? How can I get a

promotion in my job? How can I resist sexual temptations? How should I cope with my

anger or my tongue?

Finally, wisdom isn’t necessarily intellectual might. On the contrary, the one who is

sure of his or her brainpower is in the most danger of playing the fool, because even the

smartest person knows so little. One may think of oneself as already wise and therefore

as having no need to seek more knowledge. The prerequisite for wisdom is, instead, to

be humble, to feel our need and then to ask for wisdom.

Proverbs is deep and rich, and it deals with many topics. Given the limitations of

space, we’ve had to pick and choose which material we could cover. We can’t cover it

all, but all that we have is, indeed, worthy of our prayerful study.

Jacques B. Doukhan is professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis and direc-

tor of the Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological

Seminary, Andrews University. A French citizen (born in Algeria), Doukhan has a doc-

torate in Hebrew from the University of Strasbourg and a doctor of theology degree from

Andrews University.

The book of Proverbs is

a witness to the wisdom

that had been accumu-

lated over generations.

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*December 27–January 2

The Call of Wisdom

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Proverbs 1–3, Gen. 1:1, Exod.

19:16, 20:20, Prov. 11:30, 13:12, 15:4.

Memory Text:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7, NKJV).

rom Eden onward, the root of human tragedy lies in wrong

choices. “Man lost all because he chose to listen to the deceiver

rather than to Him who is Truth, who alone has understanding.

By the mingling of evil with good, his mind had become confused.”

—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 25.

The book of Proverbs is all about helping us to make right choices,

to choose the way of God and not that of the deceiver. The father or

the mother, speaking to their son, not only warns him against wrong

choices but also encourages him to make the right ones. This is so

important because the choices we make are literally matters of life and

death.

The first three chapters of Proverbs illustrate this method of educa-

tion. After having explained the purpose of the book: “to know wis-

dom” (Prov. 1:2), and having laid down the motto of the book: “the fear

of the L is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7; compare 9:10),

the author moves back and forth from warning us against listening to

foolishness, to urging us to respond to the call of heavenly wisdom.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 3.

Lesso n

December 28

The Beginning of Wisdom

In Proverbs 1:1–6, the title “the proverbs of Solomon the son of

David” (Prov. 1:1) establishes a link between this proverb and 1 Kings

3:5–14. In Kings (as in the book of Proverbs), Solomon is presented

as a son seeking wisdom from God. In addition to both referring to

Solomon as “the son of David,” the two texts share significant com-

mon wording: “understand,” “wisdom,” “judgment.” Not only do these

parallels confirm Solomon as the one behind the composition of the

book, they also show that Proverbs is dealing with the human quest for

wisdom from God.

Read

Proverbs 1:7. What is wisdom? What is “the fear of the Lord”?

How do these two concepts relate to each other?

________________________________________________________

“Wisdom” here is defined as a religious experience. It is related to

the fear of the Lord. This important concept of the Hebrew religion is

key to Proverbs. Not only does it occur repeatedly, but it also frames

the entire book (Prov. 1:7, 31:30).

The fear of the Lord has nothing to do with the superstitious and

childish fear of divine punishment. Instead, it should be understood

as the acute consciousness of God’s personal presence at all times

and everywhere. The fear of the Lord had characterized the people’s

reaction to God’s revelation at Sinai (Exod. 19:16, 20:20), just as it

explained their commitment to be faithful and to love God in response

to His covenant with them (Deut. 10:12).

In short, to fear God means to be faithful to God and to love Him.

The phrase “the fear of the L is the beginning of . . . wisdom”

means that wisdom originates in this “fear.” The Hebrew word for

“beginning” (reshit) points to the first word introducing the Creation

story (Gen. 1:1). The first lesson of wisdom, then, deals with under-

standing that God is our Creator, the One who gives us life and breath,

and that He is always present—a God of love, and justice, and redemp-

tion (John 3:16, Ps. 89:14, Heb. 9:12).

We are told to love God and also to fear Him. How do these two

concepts relate to your own experience with the Lord?

sunday

December 29

True Education

Read

Proverbs 1:8–19. What two contrasting ways of “education” are

presented in these verses? What’s the basic message here, not just

for parents, but for everyone who fears the Lord?

________________________________________________________

Education is, first of all, a family matter, and true education comes,

first and foremost, from the parents. In these verses, this education is

called “instruction” and even “law.” The Hebrew word for law, torah,

means “direction.” The parents are to point their children in the right

direction. In contrast, the other type of “education” is not identified, not

given a name. It is simply acknowledged as the voice of sinners, which

leads in the wrong direction.

Also, the words “my son,” not to be taken in a gender exclusive

sense, are repeated many times, emphasizing parental instruction. Each

parent—“your father,” “your mother” (NKJV)—is clearly identified

in the singular and is personally involved, while the other camp is an

anonymous plural, “sinners.”

“In His wisdom the Lord has decreed that the family shall be the

greatest of all educational agencies. It is in the home that the education

of the child is to begin. Here is his first school. Here, with his parents

as instructors, he is to learn the lessons that are to guide him throughout

life. . . . The educational influences of the home are a decided power

for good or for evil. . . . If the child is not instructed aright here, Satan

will educate him through agencies of his choosing.”—Ellen G. White,

The Adventist Home, p. 182.

The best argument on behalf of family education is its results. These

are the inner qualities of character, which are like ornaments on the

head and around the neck. In the Middle Eastern culture, precious col-

lars and bracelets were passed on from parents to children as a heritage

of value. Education matters more, though, than material riches. The

time spent with our children will be of much greater value for them

than the time spent at our businesses. Also, the reference to the neck

and the head, which is the individual’s face, suggests that education will

shape his or her personality. In the way of fools or sinners, only the feet

(Prov. 1:15) are mentioned, as if the wayward son had lost his identity.

How can we learn to resist the temptations that culture, society,

friends, or even family might throw our way?

Monday

December 30

The Call of Wisdom

Read

Proverbs 1:20, 21. How is wisdom presented here? What are we

being told?

________________________________________________________

While the sinners “lie in wait” and “lurk secretly” (Prov. 1:11, 18,

NKJV), wisdom “calls aloud outside” (vs. 20, NKJV), “cries out in

the chief concourses” (vs. 21, NKJV), and “speaks her words” (vs. 21,

NKJV). Wisdom is here personified, and her offer is given to the man

and the woman on the street. It is for everyone in the real business of

life. Amid the noise and rancor of so many products and so many sell-

ers, the call of wisdom must be loud; otherwise, she would not be heard

against the clamor of so many other voices.

Read

Proverbs 1:22–32. What is the result of rejecting wisdom?

________________________________________________________

The reason that people reject wisdom has nothing to do with wisdom

itself and everything to do with the character of those who reject her.

These are described as arrogant and disdainful (Prov. 1:25; compare

vs. 30), as if they know better. The implication is that wisdom is for

the naive and the simple. And yet those who reject wisdom are simple

and naive; they are fools who “hate knowledge” (Prov. 1:22, NKJV;

compare vs. 29).

Those who reject wisdom will reap the fruit of their rejection. Having

refused to choose the fear of the Lord, they will have to be content

with themselves: they will be “full with their own fancies” (Prov. 1:31,

NKJV). When we reject wisdom from above, we often end up with the

fables and lies that we fabricate for ourselves, or the fables and lies that

others fabricate for us and that we so readily accept. In this way, we

replace God with idols. Ironically, those who despise religion, mocking

those they judge as simple and naive, often are superstitious in their

own way, placing value on the most fleeting and useless of things that,

in the end, can never satisfy the most basic needs of the heart.

Read Proverbs 1:33. Given the context in what came before,

what promise and hope are found here for us? How is this promise

manifested in our own experience?

Tuesday

December 31

The Benefit of Wisdom

Read

Proverbs 2:1–5. What are the conditions for understanding the

“fear of the Lord”? What choices do we have to make in this matter?

Three times the discourse is introduced with the conjunction “if,”

marking three stages in the progression of education. The first “if ”

introduces the passive stage of listening; that is, simply being recep-

tive and attentive to the words of wisdom (Prov. 2:1, 2). The second “if ”

introduces the active response of crying and asking for wisdom (vs. 3). The

third “if ” introduces passionate involvement in seeking and searching

for wisdom as we would for “hidden treasures” (vs. 4).

Read

Proverbs 2:6–9. What are the conditions for understanding righ-

teousness? What is God’s responsibility in the acquisition of wisdom?

Note that the phrase “the L gives” in verse 6 (NKJV) responds to the

phrase “you will . . . find the knowledge of God” in verse 5 (NIV). Wisdom,

like salvation, is a gift from God. As much as the first paragraph described

the human process, this paragraph describes the divine work: He gives wis-

dom; He stores wisdom; and He guards and preserves the way of the wise.

Read

Proverbs 2:10–22. What happens when wisdom has finally found

a home in the heart?

“When wisdom enters your heart,” it marks the final stage of conver-

sion. Not only will we enjoy the knowledge of the Lord, but it will be

a pleasant experience to our souls (Prov. 2:10, NKJV). We will also be

protected from the way of evil (vs. 12) and from the seduction of evil (vs.

16), and we will walk in the path of righteousness (vs. 20).

Read

Proverbs 2:13, 17. What is the first step of wickedness, and

where does it lead?

Though we are sinners, we don’t have to fall into evil. The ones

depicted as on the wrong path must have first left the right path.

Wickedness then is understood first of all as a lack of faithfulness. Sin

begins subtly and innocently, but before long the sinner not only does

wickedly but also enjoys it.

What should it tell you about yourself if, heaven forbid, you

enjoy doing evil? Or even worse, if you don’t even deem it evil

anymore?

Wedne sday

January 1

Do Not Forget!

Read

Proverbs 3:7. What is the trap of being wise in one’s own eyes?

________________________________________________________

To be wise in one’s own eyes will lead to the illusion that one does not

need God to be wise. This is a hopeless situation. “There is more hope

for a fool than for them” (Prov. 26:12, NIV). Again, wisdom is described

as a religious commitment. To be wise means to keep God’s command-

ments (Prov. 3:1), to display “mercy and truth” (vs. 3), and to “trust in

the L” (vs. 5). Wisdom implies an intimate relationship with God.

Note the repeated reference to the heart (vss. 1, 3, 5), the seat of our

personal response to God’s influence. (The heart was already mentioned

in Proverbs 2:10 as the place wisdom should enter.)

Read

Proverbs 3:13–18. What reward comes with the gift of wisdom?

________________________________________________________

Wisdom is associated with life and health (Prov. 3:2, 8, 16, 18, 22).

One of the most suggestive images is the “tree of life” (vs. 18), a prom-

ise repeated several times in the book (Prov. 11:30, 13:12, 15:4). This

metaphor alludes to the Garden of Eden. This promise does not mean

that the acquisition of wisdom will provide eternal life; instead, the idea

is that the quality of life with God, which our first parents enjoyed in

Eden, can to some measure be recovered. When we live with God, we

get some inkling, some hints, of Eden; even better, we learn to hope in

the promised recovery of this lost kingdom (see Daniel 7:18).

Read

Proverbs 3:19, 20. Why is the need for wisdom so vital?

________________________________________________________

The sudden reference to the Creation story seems to be out of place

in this context. Yet the use of wisdom at Creation reinforces the argu-

ment of verse 18, which associates wisdom with the tree of life. If

God used wisdom to create the heavens and the earth, wisdom is not a

trivial matter. The scope of wisdom is cosmic, going beyond the limits

of our earthly existence. Wisdom concerns our eternal life, as well.

This lesson is implied in the reference to the tree of life, reminiscent of

the Garden of Eden. This perspective is also contained in the promise

that concludes our passage: “The wise shall inherit glory” (Prov. 3:35).

Thur sday

January 2

Further Study:

Read Ellen G. White, “Hidden Treasure,” pp. 111–114,

in Christ’s Object Lessons; “A Blessing in the Home,” p. 334, in

Messages to Young People; “Study of Physiology,” pp. 197, 198, in

Education; Ellen G. White Comments, p. 1156, in The SDA Bible

Commentary, vol. 3.

“The youth need to understand the deep truth underlying the Bible

statement that with God ‘is the fountain of life.’ Psalm 36:9. Not only

is He the originator of all, but He is the life of everything that lives.

It is His life that we receive in the sunshine, in the pure, sweet air, in

the food which builds up our bodies and sustains our strength. It is by

His life that we exist, hour by hour, moment by moment. Except as

perverted by sin, all His gifts tend to life, to health and joy.”—Ellen G.

White, Education, pp. 197, 198.

“Many cherish the impression that devotion to God is detrimental

to health and to cheerful happiness in the social relations of life. But

those who walk in the path of wisdom and holiness find that ‘godliness

is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and

of that which is to come.’ They are alive to the enjoyment of life’s real

pleasures.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 3, p. 1156.

Discussion Questions:

 What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? How

can someone have a lot of knowledge and not wisdom? After all, who

doesn’t know personally, or at least know about, some very knowl-

edgeable people who seem to have no wisdom?

 Dwell more on the idea of “the fear of the Lord.” If “there is no

fear in love” (1 John 4:18), how can we fear the Lord and still love

Him? How do we reconcile the tension between justice and love in

“the fear of the Lord”?

 Why is being “wise in one’s own eyes” such a dangerous state to

be in, especially when we consider how corrupt the human heart

is, and how easy it is for us to rationalize just about any behavior

we want? Think of those who have rationalized the worst of behav-

iors. How can we make sure we don’t do the same thing?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

tory

inside

From Humptulips to

Aleknagik

Life was hard in the western Washington town of Humptulips during

the 1930s. Located on the Humptulips River on the Olympic Peninsula,

the town had seen better days for the commercial fishermen trying to earn

a living.

One family, the Moodys, found life so difficult in Humptulips that they

decided to follow Mrs. Moody’s brother to Alaska, where, according to

the brother, the fishing was good, and there was money to be made. The

family of six packed up and traveled the 2,500 miles from Humptulips

to the Canadian border, then on through British Columbia and the Yukon

before heading west to the frontier town of Dillingham, Alaska. From

Dillingham, they headed up the Wood River, finally arriving on the remote

shores of Lake Aleknagik.

Although Aleknagik is a Yupik word meaning “wrong way home,” the

Moody family found a good place to settle beside the lake, where they

built a small log cabin. Mr. Moody and the eldest son took their large fish-

ing boat down into Bristol Bay, home of the world’s largest source of red

salmon, while Mrs. Moody cared for the three younger children at home.

Sadly, just a few months after settling into their new home, tragedy

struck the Moody family. As the father and eldest son headed up the river

from Dillingham, somehow both men ended up in the fast current and

drowned, leaving the mother to raise the two younger sons and a daughter.

Being a family of faith, the mother continued to gather the children for

worship, and on Sabbath they met with the uncle and his family. During

the week, Mrs. Moody carried out the work of the family fishing business

with the help of her two younger sons, Lloyd, 14, and Roland, 13.

“We grew up fast,” remembers Roland. “We had a mother and little

sister to help.”

In order to help their family survive, Lloyd and Roland had little time

for school as they worked as commercial fishermen near their home. By

the time they left their teens, the young men had not yet finished at the

rural public school. Early each morning, Roland, who was now 20, built

a fire in the school’s woodstove so the place would be warm when the

students arrived.

During those early mornings, Roland not only warmed up the class-

room—he also took the opportunity to get to know the school’s beautiful

young teacher, Miss Jackie. By the end of the year, they were married and

set up a home beside Lake Aleknagik.

Continued next week

From Ears to Feet

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Proverbs 4, 1 Kings 3:9, Matt.

13:44, Proverbs 5, 1 Cor. 10:13, Prov. 6:1–19.

Memory Text:

“Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be

established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot

from evil” (Proverbs 4:26, 27, NKJV).

cience has demonstrated that hearing impacts how we walk, and

that even our balance is influenced by how well we hear. So,

instruction, or education—that is, what we hear—is crucial to

how we live. “Wisdom is the principal thing,” says Proverbs 4:7.

Yet no matter how good the instruction is, the student must pay atten-

tion. Not without some irony an ancient Egyptian teacher noted that

the “the ear of the boy is on his back; he listens when he is beaten.”

(In Egyptian art, the student was often represented with big ears on his

back.)

It’s not enough just to know about right and wrong; we need to know

how to choose right and not wrong. Training in wisdom consists in

hearing proper instruction and in following and obeying what we have

learned so that we don’t end up walking in the wrong direction.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 10.

*January 3–9

Lesso n

January 4

Hear!

Read

Proverbs 4. What practical truth is found here, and how can we

apply this to our own lives as we seek to live in faithfulness to God?

________________________________________________________

The act of “hearing” marks the first step in education. In Hebrew

thought the seat of wisdom or of intelligence is located not in the brain,

but in the ears. This implies that even before we seek to conceptual-

ize or solve a problem, we first need to hear it. This means we need

to listen. When Solomon asks for wisdom, he specifically asks for “a

hearing heart” (1 Kings 3:9, literal translation).

The first act of wisdom, then, is “to listen,” which suggests that

wisdom comes from an external source (in this case, the parents). We

cannot discover wisdom by ourselves. The self-made individual is an

impossible concept in the domain of biblical wisdom. Wisdom is, first

of all, something that we receive, not something we shape with our own

skills or that we unearth through our own brilliance and reasoning. The

capacity of “paying attention” (Hebrew, “to put one’s heart”) implies

the involvement of the heart. The search for wisdom, then, is not

merely a cold, objective enterprise. The heart, which is the core of the

individual and (in Hebrew thought) the seat of emotions, participates

in the search for wisdom.

Read

Matthew 13:44 and Jeremiah 29:13. What link can you find

between these verses and the search for wisdom as it is expressed

in Proverbs 4?

________________________________________________________

Emotions play a crucial role in our basic existence as humans,

and thus cannot and should not be ignored in our relationship

with God. How do we learn the proper place and value of emo-

tions in regard to our spiritual life? How have your emotions

steered you right (and wrong), and what have you learned from

those experiences?

sunday

January 5

Protect Your Family

Once we determine to walk in the way of wisdom, we still need great

caution because we will meet obstacles along that way (see 1 Pet. 5:8).

One of the greatest dangers we face deals with our families, the most

precious, sensitive, and intimate domain of life.

Read

Proverbs 5. What dangers must we guard against?

________________________________________________________

The first danger begins with ourselves; it lies in our own words.

We should watch our tongues to make sure that what we say does not

convey an inappropriate or a mixed message. Our lips should be in

harmony with our knowledge and should reflect our spiritual views.

The second danger comes from the other woman or the other man

(although the text refers to the danger coming from a “strange woman,”

the language should be understood in a generic sense; temptation could

come from either a man or a woman) who interferes in the family.

Either could seduce a spouse into violating the marriage vows, and who

hasn’t seen, or experienced, just how destructive this sin is?

According to the text, the best way to resist these temptations, which

often start with alluring words, is to listen to the words of wisdom. By

heeding and obeying inspired instruction, we are more likely to stay

focused on the essentials and so be protected from adultery or whatever

other temptations come our way.

Of course, not only should we keep ourselves from adultery, we

should also avoid going to the place where the “temptress” stays (Prov.

5:10); we certainly should not approach her door (vs. 8).

Finally, perhaps the best protection of all against the temptation

to love another woman or man is this: just love your own spouse,

“the [wife or husband] of your youth” (vs. 18, NKJV). The author of

Ecclesiastes resonated with this counsel: “Enjoy life with your wife,

whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given

you under the sun” (Eccles. 9:9, NIV). Be thankful for what you have,

and you won’t be looking elsewhere.

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. With this promise before you, what

definitive and practical steps might you need to take, right now,

in order to protect yourself from the passions that might be brew-

ing in you?

Monday

January 6

Protect Your Friendship

Someone once said: “Lord, protect me from my friends; I can take

care of my enemies.” The book of Proverbs is concerned with the vul-

nerability of friendship; it counsels us on how to keep our friends and

also, if necessary, how to protect ourselves from them. The Hebrew

word for “friend” also means “neighbor,” the one who is close to us, the

one who is already a friend or who may become one. Biblical wisdom

values human relationships and appeals for thoughtfulness and respect

in these relationships.

Read

Proverbs 6:1–5. What problem does Solomon refer to, and what

is the solution? What crucial spiritual principle do we find here as

well?

________________________________________________________

While the torah urges people to help the poor and to lend them

money without charging interest (Exod. 22:25), wisdom warns us

against unwise financial backing for a friend who is in debt. The

duty of charity does not exclude the duty of justice (Exod. 23:2, 3).

Though we need to be generous when we can, we would be wise to

make sure that our charity will not turn into a fiasco (compare Prov.

22:27).

Hence, the wise counsel given to us in the proverb. The first caution

applies to our words. How crucial that we evaluate the situation and

make sure that we can afford to help our friend. If so, only then speak

and promise. Indeed, the warmth of our relationship or a moment of

emotion may precipitate our commitment, and we may regret it after-

ward.

No matter how well-intentioned you might have been, it’s crucial to

think before you act and commit to something that you can’t fulfill.

The point is that if we get into a bind, we need to do what we can to

fix it, including humbling ourselves, admitting our mistake, and asking

for grace.

How do we learn to balance our desire to bear one another’s bur-

dens (Gal. 6:2) with the words given to us in this proverb?

Tuesday

January 7

Protect Your Work

Read

Proverbs 6:6–8. What can we learn from the ant?

________________________________________________________

Not only do ants work hard (even harder than humans, if one com-

pares the burden they are able to carry to the burden humans can carry

in proportion to their respective weights), but ants work independently

and do not need to be supervised. The main reason for their hard work

is the future. They “anticipate” times of trouble (winter) and prepare

themselves for it. So, the ant teaches us the wisdom of thinking about

the future when making plans or engaging in an activity. “This is a

question that demands consideration by every parent, every teacher,

every student—by every human being, young or old. No scheme of

business or plan of life can be sound or complete that embraces only the

brief years of this present life and makes no provision for the unending

future.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 145.

Read

Proverbs 6:9–11. What can we learn from the sluggard?

________________________________________________________

It is the sluggard who has something to learn from the ant, not the

other way around: “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and

be wise” (vs. 6, NKJV). While the ants are at work, the sluggards are

asleep. While the ants are productive at the harvest, the sluggards keep

folding their two hands, a symbol of indolence. The ants surpass them-

selves by carrying burdens heavier than themselves and by preparing

for the future; the sluggards live in the present and are occupied only

with themselves.

Though indolence and laziness are condemned here, we must

also remember that life consists of more than work and earning

money. How does the Sabbath, as presented in the context of the

workweek, help us find this proper balance?

Wedne sday

Protect Yourself

After having warned us against the particular evils that threaten

three domains of life—our family, our social contacts, and our work—

Proverbs gives us a portrayal of the wicked. It is a satire full of irony

and sharp psychological observation. The two poems (Prov. 6:12–15

and 16–19) are parallel and, with the same poetic rhythm of seven,

cover corresponding motifs. The wicked person’s inside is described as

linked to what is thought in the heart; at the same time, it all becomes

manifested in what is done on the outside.

Read

Proverbs 6:14, 18 and Matthew 15:19. What important point is

being made here?

________________________________________________________

“If you indulge in vain imaginations, permitting your mind to dwell

upon impure subjects, you are, in a degree, as guilty before God as

if your thoughts were carried into action.”—Ellen G. White, The

Adventist Home, p. 334.

What

warnings are given in Proverbs 6:12–19?

________________________________________________________

The imagery is ironic. The walking wicked follows the lazy sluggard.

The two attitudes seem to be different, and yet they carry the same

lesson. Both stay within themselves. Neither one is interested in the

instruction coming from outside of themselves. They both follow their

own wisdom and inclinations. The sluggards are sleeping, and neither

their ears nor their feet function; the wicked have only their feet and

their mouths working, not their ears. The result is the same: they will

both go to destruction.

Meanwhile, evil has two effects: it harms not only persons sinned

against, but sinners, as well. The liars will finally believe their own lies.

It is also noteworthy that the ultimate result of wickedness is discord

and conflict, which also can affect society. Indeed, the effects of sin

rarely, if ever, remain confined to sinners. Others are impacted, and

usually only for the worse.

How have the sins of others affected your life? Greatly, no doubt.

What lessons can you learn from this about how careful you need

to be so that your actions don’t hurt others?

Thurs day

January 8

January 9

Further Study:

Read Ellen G. White, “Moral Standards,” pp. 326–339,

in The Adventist Home; “In Contact With Others,” pp. 489–491, in The

Ministry of Healing; “Other Object Lessons,” pp. 117–120, in Education.

“The student of the Bible should be taught to approach it in the spirit

of a learner. We are to search its pages, not for proof to sustain our

opinions, but in order to know what God says. . . .

“One of the chief causes of mental inefficiency and moral weakness

is the lack of concentration. . . . With the immense tide of printed mat-

ter constantly pouring from the press, old and young form the habit

of reading hastily and superficially, and the mind loses its power of

connected and vigorous thought.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 189.

“The habitations that the ants build for themselves show skill and

perseverance. Only one little grain at a time can they handle, but by

diligence and perseverance they accomplish wonders.

“Solomon points to the industry of the ant as a reproach to those who

waste their hours in idleness or in practices that corrupt soul and body.

The ant prepares for future seasons; but many gifted with reasoning

powers fail to prepare for the future immortal life.”—Ellen G. White,

Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 190.

Discussion Questions:

 Dwell more on this idea of how we can help others, even at a

personal cost to ourselves. How do we look at what this week’s

lesson taught in contrast to this verse: “Greater love has no one

than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13,

NKJV)?

 What other lessons can we take from the natural world that

we can apply to our own lives? Given, however, that the world is

fallen, why must we be careful in the lessons we do draw?

 Read through the seven abominations in Proverbs 6:16–19.

Why do you think that they are considered so bad in God’s eyes?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

tory

inside

Camp Polaris: A Guiding Star

After they married, Roland and Jackie Moody started talking about

ways to reach out to the native Alaskan community around them, and

decided to build a Seventh-day Adventist school on their property by

the lake. They called it the Mission School and offered first through

eighth grade. Students and parents were delighted, and kids came from

as far away as Nome just to attend the mission school. In order to

accommodate the students, two dormitories were built. Additionally,

the Moodys started an Adventist congregation and built the first

Aleknagik Seventh-day Adventist Church.

As the school grew, Roland and Jackie wanted to provide more for

their students, so they started a camp. “We just didn’t have any place to

take the young kids for activities and stuff,” recalled Roland, “and kids

like to go someplace.” They named the new place Camp Polaris—after

the guiding light of the North Star.

Roland purchased several old buildings from Crick Cannery, which

had gone out of business. He barged these buildings across Bristol Bay

to Aleknagik, and then 12 miles up the lake to Camp Polaris. More

than 60 years later, these old cannery buildings are still in use each

summer by the children of western Alaska.

For decades, Roland and Jackie enjoyed hosting the children and

ferrying them up the lake by barge to the camp. Each year on the last

Sabbath of camp, the entire Aleknagik Adventist church prepared a

feast for the kids and made the one-and-a-half-hour boat trip up the

lake to Camp Polaris where they enjoyed a special Sabbath by the lake

with the campers. After Jackie passed away, Roland married Beverly,

who helped continue the Camp Polaris traditions.

Over the years, the camp has been a vital ministry to the young

people of western Alaska. Many of the children who attend camp come

from less than ideal homes where poverty, alcoholism, and abuse are

too often the norm. They often exclaim that going to the camp is the

highlight of their year, because it is a place where they feel loved,

accepted, and cared for.

While Roland and Beverly have since retired and moved to Walla

Walla, Washington, the ministry of Camp Polaris continues. You can

become a part of this special ministry to the children of Alaska by

contributing to this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering.

To meet some of the children at Camp Polaris, read their stories at

www.adventistmission.org/resources.

A Matter of Life and

Death

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Matt. 5:21–30; Prov. 6:21; 7:3;

Prov. 6:23; 7:2; 6:24; 6:30, 31; Prov. 7:26, 27.

Memory Text:

“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light;

reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23, NKJV).

wo brothers were left home alone, but given a strict warning by

their mother to not eat the cake that she had just baked. To make

sure that the boys would obey, she added the threat of punish-

ment.

When she left, it took the boys only a few minutes to decide to eat

the cake anyway. “This is not a matter of life and death,” they reasoned.

“Our mother would never kill us; so, let’s eat!”

For the teacher in Proverbs, though, the issue he speaks about is

indeed a matter of life and death. His language is strong and sometimes

graphic. Of course, Jesus used very strong language Himself when talk-

ing about matters of eternal life and death (see Matt. 5:21–30). And no

wonder. In the end, our ultimate destiny, our eternal destiny (and what

could be more important than that?), rests upon the choices that we

make here, now. So we should take the urgency of the strong language

at face value.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 17.

*January 10–16

Lesso n

January 11

The Law in Our Lives

Read

Proverbs 6:21 and 7:3. How are we to understand the bodily images

used in these texts regarding how we should relate to God’s law?

________________________________________________________

As we saw in an earlier lesson, in Proverbs the heart represents the

seat of emotions and thoughts. By telling us to bind the law upon our

hearts (Prov. 6:21), the teacher means that we should always be in close

connection with the law. There is no moment we may lose contact with

the law, because the law is what defines sin (Rom. 7:7). The teacher

also insists that this law should even be written on the tablets of the

heart (Prov. 7:3), just as the Decalogue was written by God on the stone

tablets (Exod. 24:12).

To speak about the law written on the heart means that the law is not

just an external set of rules imposed on us. The law should penetrate

our motivations, our secret intentions, and so be part of our intimate

self. It’s another expression of having the Pauline promise of “Christ in

you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27), be a reality in our lives.

To tie the law around the neck also means that we should keep it

close to ourselves. Ancient people used to tie their precious belongings

around their necks. The neck is the place through which air travels to

the lungs, allowing breath and life, an association of thoughts that is

attested in the Hebrew word nephesh (“soul”), which refers to “life”

and is derived from a word meaning “throat” and “breathing.”

To bind the law on one’s fingers means to bring the law into the

domain of actions. The teacher focuses on the fingers to suggest the

most delicate and intimate actions. The law should affect not only the

grand choices we make but the smaller ones, as well (see Luke 16:10).

Although the biblical intention of these images was purely symbolic,

it is noteworthy that these symbols have been taken literally in Jewish,

Christian, and Muslim traditions. It is seen through the use of the

Jewish tefillin around the head and the fingers, the Christian crosses

around the neck, and the Muslim (and Christian) rosaries around the

fingers.

Symbols can be helpful, but why must we be careful not to mis-

take the symbol for the reality it represents?

sunday

January 12

Light and Life

Read

Proverbs 6:23. How is the law related to “light”?

________________________________________________________

In the Bible, the word of God or His law has been compared to light:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105,

NKJV). In the Hebrew mind, there is a connection between the idea of

“law” and of “light.” Just as the lamp illuminates the path where we

walk, the law will help us stay on track; that is, when we face moral

choices, it will help us to know what the right choice is, even if at times

reason or personal expedience would tempt us to disregard the law.

What

examples can you find in the Bible of those who chose to follow

God’s law despite powerful reasons not to? What can we learn from

their obedience? In what cases, if any, did their choice to be faithful

seem to be the wrong one at least from a human perspective?

________________________________________________________

Along

with Proverbs 6:23, read Proverbs 7:2. Why is the law related

to “life”?

________________________________________________________

Since the Fall, our hope for eternal life cannot be found in the law,

but only through faith in Christ. However, obedience to the law and

the principles it represents continues to play a central part in the life

of faith (see Matt. 19:17, Rev. 14:12). We obey because, as the Lord

said to Israel thousands of years ago, “I am the L your God” (Lev.

18:4). The law of God is related to “life,” simply because of who God

is—the Source of our life. This principle represents true spirituality:

we trust God and His promises for our present life, just as we trust His

promises for eternal life.

Jesus said: “ ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me

shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’ ” (John 8:12,

NKJV). How have you experienced the reality of this wonderful

promise in your walk with the Lord?

Monday

January 13

Fighting Temptation

As we have just seen, the author of Proverbs 6:23, under the inspira-

tion of the Holy Spirit, directly links light and life to God’s law. In the

next verse, he gives a solid example of how the law, as light and life,

can offer us powerful spiritual protection.

What

are we being warned about in Proverbs 6:24? Besides the obvi-

ous, what more subtle warning is given here?

________________________________________________________

When a religious person is tempted, the greatest temptation is to

find a religious reason to justify the iniquity. Using God to rationalize

bad behavior is not only a terrible form of blasphemy—it’s powerfully

deceptive. After all, if someone thinks that “God is with me,” then what

can you say in reply? This can happen even in cases of adultery. “God

has shown me that this [man or woman] is the one I should be with.” If

that’s what they believe, who or what can trump what “God” has shown

them?

Notice, too, it’s not just her physical beauty that lures him. She uses

language, flattering words, to draw the victim into her trap. How often

have men and women been led into compromising situations by subtle

and seductive words, sometimes even couched in religious language? The

author of the book of Proverbs seeks to warn us against this deception.

The law is the perfect antidote against the “flattering tongue of a

seductress.” Only the imperative of the law and the duty of obedi-

ence will help us resist her alluring words, which can sound so true

and beautiful. Indeed, the seductress will find you not only handsome

but also wise and bright. She may even evoke her spiritual needs; and

ironically, dangerously, “the love of God” might become the justifica-

tion for sin.

Just think how easily we can be led, even under the guise of faith,

to justify wrong actions of any kind, not just adultery. Why, then,

is an absolute commitment to the law of God our only real pro-

tection against even our own minds and the tricks that they can

play on us?

Tuesday

January 14

“You Shall Not Steal”

Right after his warning about adultery (Prov. 6:24–29), the author

starts talking about another sin: stealing (vss. 30, 31). The relationship

between the two commandments (stealing and adultery) shows how

disobedience to one commandment can affect our obedience to the oth-

ers. The attitude of compromise, to pick and choose in regard to God’s

law, could be even more dangerous than complete disobedience to the

law. “The strongest bulwark of vice in our world is not the iniquitous

life of the abandoned sinner or the degraded outcast; it is that life

which otherwise appears virtuous, honorable, and noble, but in which

one sin is fostered, one vice indulged. . . . He who, endowed with high

conceptions of life and truth and honor, does yet willfully transgress

one precept of God’s holy law, has perverted his noble gifts into a lure

to sin.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 150.

Read

Proverbs 6:30, 31. What are these verses saying about what even

a desperate person does?

________________________________________________________

Poverty and needs do not justify stealing. The thief is guilty even if

“he is starving” (vs. 30, NKJV). Although the starving thief is not to be

despised, he must still restore seven times what he has stolen; this shows

that even the desperateness of his situation does not justify sin. On the

other hand, the Bible insists that it is our duty to meet the needs of the poor,

so that they don’t feel compelled to steal in order to survive (Deut. 15:7, 8).

How interesting that after going from adultery to stealing, the text

now returns to adultery (Prov. 6:32–35). The two sins are indeed some-

what similar. In both cases, someone is illicitly taking something that

belongs to someone else. A crucial difference, however, between steal-

ing and adultery lies in the fact that the former sin concerns only the

loss of an object, while the latter deals with something much greater. In

some cases, one can make restitution for stealing an object; in the cases

of adultery, especially when children are involved, the damage can be

much more severe than when stealing is involved.

“ ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ This commandment forbids not only

acts of impurity, but sensual thoughts and desires, or any practice that tends

to excite them. . . . Christ, who taught the far-reaching obligation of the law

of God, declared the evil thought or look to be as truly sin as is the unlawful

deed.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 308.

Wedne sday

The Threat of Death

Most people don’t think of death when they sin; they have other

things on their minds, usually the immediate gratification and pleasure

that they derive from their sin. It doesn’t help, either, that popular cul-

ture often extols adultery and other iniquities. In contrast, the book of

Proverbs places sin in the right perspective, a view echoed many years

later by Paul: “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

Read

Proverbs 7:22, 23 (NKJV). What makes the adulterer vulnerable to

the threat of death?

________________________________________________________

The one who goes “after her” is described as someone who has lost

his personality and will. He is no longer thinking. The word immedi-

ately suggests that he does not give himself time for much reflection.

He is compared to an ox who “goes to the slaughter,” to a fool who

goes to “the correction of the stocks,” and to a bird who “hastens to the

snare.” None of them realize that their life is threatened.

Read

Proverbs 7:26, 27. What makes the immoral woman lethal?

________________________________________________________

It’s possible that the woman here depicts more than a “mere” adul-

terer. In fact, she represents values opposite to wisdom. Solomon uses

this metaphor to warn his pupil against any form of evil. The risk is

huge, for this woman does not just wound; she kills, and her power is

such that she has slain even the strongest of men. In other words, oth-

ers before you, stronger than you, have not been able to survive in her

hands. The universal language of this passage clearly suggests that the

biblical author is speaking about humankind in general. (The Hebrew

word sheol in the text has nothing to do with “hell,” as commonly

thought; it designates the place where the dead now are: the grave.)

In the end, the point is that sin, whether adultery or something else,

leads to annihilation, the opposite of the eternal life that God wants us

all to have through Jesus Christ.

No wonder, as we said in Sabbath’s introduction, the language is

strong—we are dealing, literally, with matters of life and death.

Think of some “strong” people who have fallen in a big way. Why

should this make you tremble for yourself? What is your only

protection?

Thurs day

January 15

January 16

Further Study:

“Satan offers to men the kingdoms of the world if they

will yield to him the supremacy. Many do this and sacrifice heaven. It is

better to die than to sin; better to want than to defraud; better to hunger

than to lie.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 495.

“Choose poverty, reproach, separation from friends, or any suffering

rather than to defile the soul with sin. Death before dishonor or the

transgression of God’s law should be the motto of every Christian. As a

people professing to be reformers, treasuring the most solemn, purify-

ing truths of God’s word, we must elevate the standard far higher than

it is at the present time.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church,

vol. 5, p. 147.

Discussion Questions:

 How can we be serious about the gravity of sin without falling

into the trap of fanaticism? At the same time, how can we be obe-

dient to the law of God without falling into legalism?

 Read Exodus 20:1–17. How are all the Ten Commandments

related to each other? Why, if we openly violate one command-

ment, are we likely to transgress other commandments, as well?

(See James 2:11.) What examples can you find in which transgres-

sion of one commandment has led to the transgression of others?

 Dwell more on the idea of how people might use religion in order

to justify wrong actions. It’s not that hard to do, especially if you

tend to hold up “love” as the ultimate standard of right and wrong.

After all, think about all the bad things done under the pretext of

“love.” How, then, does the law continue to act as a way of protecting

people, either from themselves or others, who might otherwise be

led into sin?

 Look again at the question at the end of Sunday’s study, which

deals with mistaking symbols for reality. How might we do that?

For example, how might idolatry be one way of doing this? What

traditions, which are symbols of spiritual truths, could be mis-

taken for those truths themselves?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

tory

inside

“This Isn’t Yogi Bear!”

Being from the tropical country of Puerto Rico, Paola never dreamed

that she would end up in the wilds of Alaska. “It’s just so out there,”

Paola says. “It’s one of those places that you’re never going to go to

because it’s so far away.”

But when the recruiting team from the Alaska Conference came

to Walla Walla University in Washington State, looking for sum-

mer camp staff, Paola decided to check it out. She was hired, and

that summer she found herself lifeguarding on the shores of Lake

Aleknagik at Camp Polaris.

“It was nothing like I expected,” Paola admits. “I pictured snow and

igloos, but it was gorgeous and green!”

In addition to the natural beauty, Paola experienced other surprises.

During orientation, the staff were warned that bears frequented the

camp. “We were instructed that these bears aren’t like Yogi Bear [a

friendly children’s cartoon character],” Paola remembers. “But even

though we were warned, a lot of us were still thinking, It’s just a

bear.”

One day Paola noticed a bear coming into camp. Wanting a pic-

ture, she quickly grabbed her camera and looked down as she walked

toward the lake. Looking up, she suddenly froze—directly in front of

her was a grizzly bear!

“Everything stopped. I couldn’t hear anything. Everyone else was

in the lodge; no one could see me. The bear was frozen too. The only

thought I had was, This isn’t Yogi!”

Suddenly, the grizzly headed toward a garbage container, and Paola

moved quickly back into the lodge. “Sometimes you don’t know how

bad something is until you come face-to-face with it,” she says.

Working at the camp opened her eyes in many ways, Paola admits.

“I realized that I’m not a kid anymore. These are the kids now, and I

needed to take care of them.”

Sometimes Paola found drawing the line of authority challenging.

“When there were issues, I learned to maneuver around the children,

not making them feel unwelcome or inferior, but working with them

in a way so they could see they needed to stop their tantrums and

come back with the others who were having fun.

“There had to be a certain amount of respect going on so that they

would know you were the authority but would still feel comfortable

coming to you if they had any problems—especially spiritually. At

Camp Polaris, there is a spiritual aspect to everything.”

Divine Wisdom

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Prov. 8:1–21, Matt. 16:26,

Prov. 8:22–31, Gen. 1:31, Prov. 8:32–36, 9:1–18.

Memory Text:

“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,

before His works of old” (Proverbs 8:22, NKJV).

t this stage in Proverbs, wisdom reappears (see Prov. 1:20,

21), and it’s clear from the texts for this week that wisdom is

truth—the Truth as it exists in God, the Source and Foundation

of all truth.

This accent on the “absolute” character of truth contrasts with some

contemporary thinking, especially in the West, in which truth is seen

as relative, contingent, cultural, with one person’s truth being different

from someone else’s.

But this concept is not biblical. My truth should be the same as yours,

simply because “truth” is universal. It does not belong to anyone in

particular but to all humanity, whether or not all humanity recognizes it.

Interestingly enough, Pilate’s famous question to Jesus, “What is

truth?” (John 18:38), came in response to Jesus’ statement, “ ‘Everyone

who is of the truth hears My voice’ ” (vs. 37, NKJV). Truth, absolute

truth, exists, and it even speaks to us; what matters for us is whether or

not we will listen to, and obey, what it is saying.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 24.

*January 17–23

Lesso n

January 18

Wisdom Cries Out

Read

Proverbs 8:1–21 (NKJV). According to these verses, what is the

value of wisdom?

________________________________________________________

Wisdom is so important that it must reach everyone. God created all

human life, and Christ died for each one of us. So wisdom, the knowl-

edge of God, and the salvation He offers, is for every human being.

Look at the words used to describe wisdom’s vocal presence: “cry

out,” “lift up her voice,” “call,” “voice,” “speak,” “opening . . . lips,”

“mouth,” “lips,” “words.” However one understands these metaphors,

what is clear is that wisdom is to be communicated; it is to be heard by

all who will listen. After all, as we saw last week, what wisdom says is

a matter of life and death.

Eight times wisdom talks about the truthfulness of her words. The

description of wisdom here, interestingly enough, parallels the por-

trayal of the Lord in Deuteronomy 32:4. This parallel, of course, should

not be surprising, because God, as the Creator of all things (see John

1:1–3), is the Foundation of all truth.

Read

Proverbs 8:10, 11. What do these verses say about wisdom?

________________________________________________________

So many people have lived, and still live, in ignorance, in folly, and

in darkness. Many live with no hope at all or with false hopes. What

makes this sad state of affairs even sadder is that wisdom and truth are

so wonderful, filled with hope and promise for a better life now and

the surety of eternal life in a new heaven and a new earth, all thanks to

the sacrifice of Jesus. All the wealth in the world means nothing (see

Eccles. 2:11–13) in contrast to the knowledge of God.

Read Matthew 16:26 and ask yourself how well your life reflects

the crucial truth of these words.

sunday

January 19

Wisdom and Creation

Read

Proverbs 8:22–31. How is wisdom related to Creation?

________________________________________________________

In these texts, wisdom is mysteriously related to the Lord as the

Creator. This poem shares many common words with the Creation

account in Genesis 1 and 2, and even reflects its literary structure,

organized around the three basic elements of heaven, water, and

earth. The intention of this parallel is to emphasize the primary cre-

dential of wisdom: if God Himself used wisdom to create, if wisdom

is the oldest tool, older than the universe itself and fundamental to

its existence, we should all the more use wisdom in everything we

do in life.

There is also a strong emphasis on the divine origin of wisdom.

The first word of the poem is the L, Yahweh, who is said to

have “begotten” (second word) wisdom. The Hebrew word qanah,

translated as “possessed” by the NKJV, has the connotation of

“begetting” rather than “creating” (see Deut. 32:6, Gen. 4:1). The

next word is the technical word that is associated with the Genesis

Creation, reshit (“beginning”), which is found in the first verse of

Genesis: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Yet the word beginning in Proverbs 8:22 is used somewhat differ-

ently from the way it is used in Genesis 1. In Genesis 1:1, the word

is related to the Creation itself, while in Proverbs 8:22, the word is

related to God Himself, to His way (derek), which means His nature.

Thus, wisdom is part of the very nature of God Himself.

Wisdom, therefore, is situated in time even before the creation of

the universe. The existence of wisdom, at that time when only God

was present, traces the antiquity of wisdom “from everlasting.”

So, wisdom does not originate in us, but rather is revealed to us;

it is something that we learn, something that is taught to us; it is not

what we generate out of ourselves. Surely, to walk in our own light is

to walk in darkness. We are told that Jesus is “the true Light which

gives light to every man” (John 1:9, NKJV). Every man needs it too.

Monday

January 20

Rejoicing in Creation

In Genesis 1, we see that each step of the Creation concludes with

the same refrain: “God saw that it was good” (see Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18,

21, 25, 31). The last step (vs. 31) goes even further: “It was very good.”

The Hebrew word for “good” contains the idea of enjoyment, and it

also implies relationship. At the end of the whole Creation week, God

pauses to fully enjoy His creation (Gen. 2:1–3). The time of this pause,

the Sabbath, is blessed. Likewise, our poem concludes with wisdom’s

enjoying the Creation.

Read

Proverbs 8:30, 31. Why was wisdom rejoicing?

________________________________________________________

Wisdom’s rejoicing reflects God’s rejoicing at Creation. This rejoic-

ing not only happens “daily” at each step of Creation but also crowns

the work of Creation, when the creation (of life on earth) itself was

completed.

In Proverbs 8, we find the reason for wisdom’s rejoicing: “My delight

was with the sons of men” (vs. 31, NKJV). At the end of the Creation

week, on Sabbath, God entered into a relationship with humans. The

immediate application of this divine pause and rejoicing, after the work

of the week, has implications for the human experience of Sabbath:

“Following the pattern of the Creator, he too may look back upon his

finished work with joy, pleasure, and satisfaction. In this way man may

rejoice not only in God’s creation but also in his responsible rulership,

not exploitation, over creation.”—Gerhard F. Hasel, in Kenneth A.

Strand, The Sabbath in Scripture and History (Washington, D.C.:

Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1982), p. 23.

Read Colossians 1:15–17, 2:3, Revelation 3:14, and John 1:1–14.

What do these verses tell us about Jesus’ role in the Creation

itself? Why is His role as Creator so important in understanding

His role as our Redeemer?

Tuesday

January 21

Wisdom’s Appeal

The last few verses of this proverb return to the personal—to the

practical application of what it means to have wisdom. By contrast,

the intellectual knowledge about wisdom’s preexistence, about wis-

dom’s presence at Creation, is certainly deep. But in the Bible, truth

must always at some point come down to the human level and how we

respond to what we have been given in Jesus.

Read

Proverbs 8:32–36. What life-and-death message is given here?

________________________________________________________

The Hebrew word translated as “blessed” (NKJV) means “happy”

(see RSV). In this passage, the word “blessed” is attached to two propo-

sitions. The first one describes an action: “Blessed are those who keep

my ways” (vs. 32, NKJV). The same language is used in Psalm 119:1,

2, in regard to the law: “Blessed are the undefiled . . . who walk in the

law of the L! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies” (NKJV).

The second one describes an attitude: “Blessed is the man who

listens to me” (vs. 34, NKJV). In both cases, the requirement implies

a continuous effort. It is not enough to have discovered the right

way; we have to “keep it.” It is not enough to hear the word of God;

we have to “watch daily” and follow what we know. As Jesus put

it: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke

11:28, NKJV).

“Is this the happiness desirable which is to be found in the path

of disobedience and transgression of physical and moral law? Christ’s

life points out the true source of happiness and how it is to be attained.

. . . If they would be happy indeed, they should cheerfully seek to be

found at the post of duty, doing the work which devolves upon them

with fidelity, conforming their hearts and lives to the perfect pattern.”

—Ellen G. White, My Life Today, p. 162.

Happiness can be an elusive thing; the more we strive for it, the

harder it seems for us to attain it. Why should faithfulness to

God, as opposed to the pursuit of happiness, be our first prior-

ity? Besides, which is more likely to produce happiness (and

why): seeking it, or seeking first the kingdom of God?

Wedne sday

Either/Or

Following wisdom’s appeal, the inspired author of Proverbs 9 urges

his audience to make a choice now between two lifestyles: wisdom or

folly. The first and last six verses (vss. 1–6, 13–18) are symmetrical and

bring out the contrast between the opposite camps.

Compare

Proverbs 9:1–6 and Proverbs 9:13–18. What is the differ-

ence between wisdom and folly?

________________________________________________________

1. Wisdom is efficient and is involved in Creation: seven verbs are

used to describe her actions there (vss. 1–3). The seven pillars she has

hewn (vs. 1) allude to the seven days of Creation. Folly, in contrast, sits

and does nothing, just pretending to be someone when in fact “she is

simple, and knows nothing” (vs. 13, NKJV).

2. Although wisdom and folly call the same audience (note the iden-

tical vss. 4 and 16), what they provide is essentially different. Wisdom

invites her guests to eat the bread and drink the drink that she has

prepared (vs. 5). Folly offers nothing to eat or drink; she simply boasts

about stolen provisions (vs. 17).

3. Wisdom calls us to forsake foolishness and, therefore, to live. Folly

is more tolerant; she does not demand that we forsake anything, but the

result is death. Those who follow wisdom will be advancing; they will

“go in the way of understanding” (vs. 6, NKJV). Those who follow folly

will be static, and they will “not know” (vs. 18, NKJV).

Read

Proverbs 9:7–9. How do the wise man and the wicked man

respond to the instruction of wisdom? What makes the wise man

wiser than the wicked man?

________________________________________________________

The key to wisdom is humility. The wise man is the man who is teach-

able and responds to instruction with an open mind. Wisdom comes only

to the one who, like a child, feels the need to grow. This is why, in the most

explicit manner, Jesus taught that “ ‘unless you . . . become as little children,

you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven’ ” (Matt. 18:3, NKJV).

Thurs day

January 22

January 23

Further Study:

“The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His

work of beneficence. He had an associate—a co-worker who could

appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness

to created beings. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was

with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with

God.’ John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one

with the eternal Father—one in nature, in character, in purpose—the only

being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. . . . And

the Son of God declares concerning Himself: ‘The Lord possessed me

in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from

everlasting. . . . When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I

was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight,

rejoicing always before Him.’ Proverbs 8:22–30.”—Ellen G. White,

Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34.

Discussion Questions:

 Why is belief in the Genesis Creation account the foundation

of biblical wisdom? Why is the idea of evolution contrary to the

Bible in every way?

 Dwell more on the idea that true wisdom is something that

we cannot generate of ourselves but that must be revealed to us.

What are some examples of important truths that we would never

know other than their being revealed by divine inspiration? For

instance, how could we know about Christ’s death on the cross and

what it offers were it not revealed? What about the seventh-day

Sabbath or the Second Coming?

 How does God’s work, as revealed in Genesis 1, testify to the

fact that good cannot be mixed with evil? What implications does

your answer have for the idea that one could, for instance, incorpo-

rate an evolutionary worldview into the Genesis Creation story?

 How does God’s enjoyment of the creation help us to under-

stand how we can have a deeper and richer Sabbath experience?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

tory

inside

“Being Ready for Whatever”

Travis didn’t know what to do with his camper. At the age of 12,

Logan

was the toughest kid in the cabin and wanted to be in charge of

everyone and everything. One night, Logan decided he wasn’t going to

bed, so Travis and his co-counselor came up with a plan.

“OK,” they told the obstinate camper, “you can stay up—as long as

you read the Bible.” Logan agreed, but he didn’t have a Bible; in fact,

he had never read one. So the co-counselor loaned Logan his Bible,

and by the light of the moon and a flashlight, the boy met the heroes

of Genesis for the very first time.

The next morning Logan confided to his counselors, “I actually

found some cool stories in there.” He was especially interested in the

story of Joseph and asked many questions, wondering how Joseph was

able to do all that he did.

“Although Logan still acted tough, you could see the gears starting

to turn as he wondered what we were all about,” remembers Travis.

“It was kind of cool to see the change that took place over the week.”

Most of the kids who come to Camp Polaris don’t know the Bible’s

stories. Travis remembers a time when only one camper knew the story

of David and Goliath. “We’re ministering to kids who don’t grow up

in Christian homes, who don’t read the Bible. It takes a lot of prayer to

help reach these kids... to know how to reach them.”

Travis, a senior mechanical engineering student at Walla Walla

University, started working at Camp Polaris in 2011. In addition to

being a counselor, he has taught a variety of classes including wake-

boarding and model rocketry.

“I’ve loved it every summer, that’s why I keep going back,” he says.

“It’s been an absolute blast. On top of that, I’ve learned a lot about

trusting in God, because you get situations where you don’t know how

to make it through the week, but you always do. Then in hindsight, you

see that even the tough things were a positive. It definitely is about

learning to trust God.

“I think I’m a little more comfortable now with just being thrown

into a situation. I’ve learned to be flexible and go with the flow, and

to be ready for whatever—because you don’t know what’s going to

happen next.”

* Not his real name.

The Blessings

of the

Righteous

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Prov. 10:1–14, Matt. 19:19, Prov-

erbs 11–12, John 3:16, Proverbs 13.

Memory Text:

“Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence

covers the mouth of the wicked” (Proverbs 10:6, NKJV).

s the title suggests, this lesson looks at the blessings of the

righteous. The Hebrew word zaddiq, for “righteous,” is the

key word in our texts. Zedeq (also translated “justice”), from

which it is derived, appears in the introduction of the whole book:

“The proverbs of Solomon . . . to receive the instruction of wisdom,

justice [zedeq] . . .” (Prov. 1:1–3). What the book of Proverbs is telling

us is that wisdom is righteousness, and “righteousness” means to walk

according to God’s commands—to walk in faith and obedience to what

the Lord has called us to be and to do. Righteousness is a gift, one that

comes from God. The opposite is folly and unfaithfulness. Wisdom is

justice, or righteousness; folly is sin and wickedness—and in the verses

we will study, the contrast between them is stark.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 31.

*January 24–30

Lesso n

January 25

Righteousness Is Holistic

Read

Proverbs 10:1–7. What various principles about life and faith

are revealed here?

________________________________________________________

There is a story about a man in a boat who began to drill a hole under

his feet where he sat. When people in the boat demanded that he stop,

he responded: “This is none of your business. This is my place!” This

absurd response is often the excuse used by the sinner to justify his or

her behavior. “This is my life; it has nothing to do with you.” Of course,

anything we do or don’t do has an impact on others, especially on those

nearest to us. Who hasn’t felt, in a big way, the results of other people’s

actions, either good or bad?

The principle of unity between the spiritual-moral life and the

physical-material life is dealt with in verses 3–5. The main idea is that

wickedness or moral deficiency does not pay, even if one is rich; and

that righteousness is always rewarding, in one way or another, even if

one is poor.

In verses 6 and 7, we see here an earlier expression of what Jesus

said about how lust is adultery, or hatred akin to murder. Hiding our

hatred behind our words doesn’t always work, either. Wicked thoughts

are often betrayed in our body language and the tone of our voice. The

best possible starting point for good relations with others is, “You shall

love your neighbor as yourself ” (Lev. 19:18, NKJV; compare with Matt.

19:19, NKJV). As the texts also suggest, the impression you make for

good can have a lasting influence on others. In the end, we’re dealing

with a certain amount of common sense: Isn’t it better to have a good

name than a bad one?

What important decision are you going to be making soon? If

you haven’t already done so, consider carefully the impact that

choice might have on others, for good or for evil.

sunday

January 26

The Mouth of the Righteous

The mouth (with its components, the lips and the tongue) is the

most important organ in the book of Proverbs. In the New King James

Version of the book, the word mouth is used 50 times, lips occurs 41

times, and tongue 19. The use of this organ in speech is a particularly

important theme in Proverbs 10–29.

The basic premise is crucial: our words are very powerful, either

for good or for evil. The tongue can be the best or the worst gift that

we’ve been given. This ambivalence about the tongue is one of the most

important lessons in Proverbs. Indeed, the mouth generates life, but it

also may bring death.

Read

Proverbs 10:11–14. What is the contrast there between how the

righteous person speaks and how the fool does?

________________________________________________________

In verse 11, notice the expression the “well of life.” It symbolically

refers to qualities of wisdom. It is used in reference to the Lord (Ps.

36:9), the Source of life. The same image is used in relation to the

sanctuary, from which the stream of water springs (Ezek. 47:1, 2). Jesus

uses this metaphor to illustrate the gift of the Spirit (John 4:14). So the

comparison of the mouth of the righteous to “a well of life” amounts to

relating it to God Himself.

What characterizes this mouth is the positive gift of “life.” This qual-

ity tells us what the proper function of the mouth should be. It should

be a force for good, not evil, a source of life, not death. What is being

said here is seen also in James 3:2–12.

Remember, too, that it was through speech, through the “word of His

power” (Heb. 1:3, NKJV), that God created the heavens and the earth.

Speech, therefore, should serve only creative purposes.

Consider just how incredibly powerful words are. With your

words you can fill people with self-confidence, cheer, and hope,

or you can break them down and damage them as surely as if you

attacked them physically. How careful are you as you wield the

power of your tongue?

Monday

January 27

The Hope of the Righteous

“The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness

of transgressors shall destroy them” (Prov. 11:3). What evidence do we

have of the truth of this verse? What examples have you seen or heard

about in which this spiritual truth has been revealed? By contrast, what

things have you seen that mean, so far at least, that you have to take

this text by faith?

________________________________________________________

Read

Proverbs 11. Though it touches on so many topics, what are some

of the great blessings that come to the faithful as opposed to what

happens to the wicked?

________________________________________________________

The sense of a future and the value of what is not yet seen (see

2 Cor. 4:18) help motivate the righteous to live rightly. Because of

their hope in the future, the righteous behave with humility, honesty,

and compassion.

On the other hand, wicked people live only in the present; they are

concerned only with what they see and with the immediate reward. They

think of themselves before others and will resort to deception and abuse.

For instance, the salespeople who deceive their customers might perhaps

get an immediate reward with a higher price, but they ultimately could

lose their customers, and their business might fail (Prov. 11:3, 18).

Think about some of the decisions you have to make and how

you go about making them. How much long-term planning (as in

eternity) factors into your choices?

Tuesday

January 28

The Truth of the Righteous

Read

Proverbs 12 and focus on the theme of words, especially in the

context of telling truth or telling lies. What message do we find here

about honesty and lying?

________________________________________________________

Philosopher Sissela Bok has convincingly demonstrated how lying

can be harmful for society. She writes: “A society, then, whose mem-

bers were unable to distinguish truthful messages from deceptive ones,

would collapse.”—Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life

(New York: Pantheon Books, 1978), p. 19. Likewise, Augustine, as

quoted in the introduction of Bok’s book, noted that “when regard for

truth has been broken down or even slightly weakened, all things will

remain doubtful.”—Page xv.

Ellen G. White wrote: “Lying lips are an abomination to Him. He

declares that into the holy city ‘there shall in no wise enter . . . any

thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh

a lie.’ Let truth telling be held with no loose hand or uncertain grasp.

Let it become a part of the life. Playing fast and loose with truth, and

dissembling to suit one’s own selfish plans, means shipwreck of faith.

. . . He who utters untruths sells his soul in a cheap market. His false-

hoods may seem to serve in emergencies; he may thus seem to make

business advancement that he could not gain by fair dealing; but he

finally reaches the place where he can trust no one. Himself a falsifier,

he has no confidence in the word of others.”—My Life Today, p. 331.

When we think of how powerful words are, we must think about

lying, as well, because most lies are told with words. Who hasn’t felt

the sting, the betrayal, the sense of defilement when lied to? It’s not

hard to imagine a society falling into total chaos when lying is the norm

rather than an aberration from the norm.

There’s another angle, too: the effect of lying on the one who lies.

Some people are so used to the practice that it doesn’t bother them;

many people, though, do feel a sense of guilt, of shame, when they lie.

Good for them, because that means there is still some receptiveness to

the Holy Spirit.

Imagine, though, the danger for the one who lies but doesn’t even

think twice about it.

When was the last time you lied? How did you feel when you did it?

Wedne sday

The Reward of the Righteous

As we have seen in Proverbs, so much of the instruction and teach-

ing given has been presented by contrasting two types of people. “The

wise person does this, the fool does that.” “The godly man does that,

the wicked man does this.”

Of course, in reality, there’s often a bit of wisdom and foolishness

in all of us. With the exception of Jesus, we all are sinners, we all fall

“short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Fortunately, we have the won-

derful promise that comes in the next verse: though we are sinners, by

faith we can be “justified freely by his grace through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus” (vs. 24).

In the end, all humanity is going to be in either one of two camps:

people who are going to be saved or lost.

Read

John 3:16. What two options does all humanity face?

________________________________________________________

Read

Proverbs 13. How does this chapter contrast the experience and

fate of the righteous with that of the wicked?

________________________________________________________

The wise are compared to a lasting lamp, while the wicked are

compared to a lamp that will be put out (Prov. 13:9). The wise person

will enjoy the good fruit of his or her work, while the sinner will reap

evil (vss. 2, 25). Through their children (vs. 22), the wise have a future

even beyond themselves; the wicked, instead, will leave their wealth to

strangers, even to the righteous (vs. 22).

The point is that a life of faith and obedience to the Lord is better

than a life of disobedience and folly.

Putting aside the big issue of the promise of eternal life, what

are some of the immediate, day-to-day advantages that you have

experienced through living a life of faith in Christ?

Thurs day

January 29

January 30

Further Study:

“It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ

and have our names registered on the church roll. . . . Whatever our

profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of

righteousness.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 312, 313.

“The greatest deception of the human mind in Christ’s day was that a

mere assent to the truth constitutes righteousness. In all human experi-

ence a theoretical knowledge of the truth has been proved to be insuf-

ficient for the saving of the soul. . . . The darkest chapters of history

are burdened with the record of crimes committed by bigoted religion-

ists.... The same danger still exists. Many take it for granted that they

are Christians, simply because they subscribe to certain theological

tenets. But they have not brought the truth into practical life. . . . Men

may profess faith in the truth; but if it does not make them sincere, kind,

patient, forbearing, heavenly-minded, it is a curse to its possessors, and

through their influence it is a curse to the world.

“The righteousness which Christ taught is conformity of heart and

life to the revealed will of God.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages,

pp. 309, 310.

Discussion Questions:

 Discuss how our decisions impact others for good or for evil.

Why is this an inescapable fact of life? This truth was first revealed

in the story of the Fall, where even to this day the impact of Adam’s

and Eve’s choice is felt in each of our lives. It might be tempting

to try to measure the amount of good or bad our decisions might

bring, but that’s risky, because we often don’t know the impact of

our choices. Why, then, in light of God and His law, must we choose

to do what’s right, regardless of what we fear the consequences

might be?

 Proverbs makes a sharp distinction between the righteous and

the fool, and from these verses we learn about what is right and

wrong. Why, though, must we be very careful whom we judge as

fools? On the other hand, how often have we been deceived by

those whom we once thought were righteous?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

tory

inside

A Light in the World

Heather Ueeck grew up in Delta Junction, a small town at the end

of the Alaska Highway. As a child, Heather loved going to camp every

summer and kept a record of her experiences, listing her daily activi-

ties. Early on she wrote, “And of course we had to do worship, and

that was dumb.”

But as the years went by, camp worships became more meaningful

to Heather. One worship that made a big impression involved a candle

and a balloon. “They held a balloon over a lit candle, and the balloon

popped right away. Then they put water into another balloon and held

it over the candle, and it didn’t pop! The presenter explained that we

are like the balloon and the water represents Christ. If we have Christ

in us, He calms us and gives us peace and strength.He’s a resource that

we can latch on to.”

Heather now tries to pass on these lessons to campers as she works

at Camp Polaris. “The kids aren’t Adventists, and they don’t come

from the best families. They aren’t used to discipline, to structure, and

people caring about them. They often act up. Sometimes it seems as if

they hate camp, but they keep coming back. Even with the struggles,

underneath they realize that we actually care about them.”

Heather admits that working at Camp Polaris has taught her patience.

“It’s my job to lead the kids toward God. Patience and flexibility are so

important, and trusting in God. It’s given me a strong tool for facing

situations that will come up in my life—just learning to deal with the

things that this world throws at you. It’s given me an appreciation for

others who have served me and has given me the attitude that I want to

help other people and be a light in the world.”

Camp Polaris is in need of updated facilities, such as “bear-proof

cabins,” says Heather. And now that the Moodys have left, the only

way to ferry the children to camp is by making several one-and-a-half-

hour trips by small boat. Restroom and bathing facilities include two

outhouses, a steam sauna, and the icy waters of Lake Aleknagik.

But the primitive accommodations are not a deterrent for Heather.

“I’ve lived in Alaska all my life,” she says, “and [Camp Polaris] is the

most isolated I’ve ever been. But it’s definitely a place where you can

feel very close to God. I really love it up there.”

What You Get Is Not What

You

See

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Proverbs 14; Dan. 7:25; Mark

12:30, 31; Prov. 15:3; Isa. 5:20; Proverbs 15; Matt. 20:26–28.

Memory Text:

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end

is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12, NKJV).

s Paul had said: “We see through a glass, darkly” (1 Cor.

13:12). We see so little, and what we do see always comes

filtered through our own minds. Our eyes and ears—all our

senses, actually—give us only a narrow view of what’s really out there.

We can be deceived, too, not only about the external world, but about

ourselves, as well. Our dreams, our views, and our opinions can give us

very distorted images of what we are really like, and of all deceptions,

that can be by far the worst.

What should we do then, to protect ourselves from these deceptions?

Proverbs provides us with basic counsel. We should not trust ourselves,

as the fool does. On the contrary, we should trust the Lord, who con-

trols the course of events even when all seems to go wrong. In short,

we need to live by faith and not merely by sight, because our sight can

be exceedingly deceptive, showing only a small portion of what is real,

and then even worse, distorting the little it does show us.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 7.

*January 31–February 6

Lesso n

February 1

The Assurance of the Fool

Read

Proverbs 14. What does it say about the fool?

________________________________________________________

The fool speaks proudly (Prov. 14:3). The first depiction of the fool

deals with his “proud speech.” The image of the rod associated with

the fool’s lips implies his eventual punishment. His proud words have

resulted in a blow on his lips, an outcome that is seen in contrast with

the lips of the wise, which are preserved (see also Dan. 7:8).

The fool mocks wisdom (Prov. 14:6–9). Although the fool seems to

seek wisdom, in fact he does not believe in it and is skeptical of it. He

will not find it because, in his own mind, there is no wisdom apart from

himself. Most frightful is his attitude toward violation of the law. What

could be more deadly than mocking the idea of sin?

The fool is credulous (Prov. 14:15). Paradoxically, while the fool

makes fun of those idealists who still believe in the values of wisdom,

he has lost his ability to think critically about what he hears; he believes

“every word.” The irony of this situation strikes at the heart of secular

society. Skeptical people mock God and make fun of religion, claiming

that these beliefs are for children and old people, yet they themselves

often believe in some of the most foolish things, such as the creation of

life on earth by pure chance alone.

The fool is impulsive (Prov. 14:16, 29). Because the fool believes

that he has the truth within himself, he does not take time to think. His

reaction will be quick, dictated mostly by impulse.

The fool oppresses others (Prov. 14:21, 31). The mechanisms of

oppression and intolerance are suggested in the psychology of the fool.

He is intolerant of others and will treat them with contempt (see Dan.

7:25; 8:11, 12).

It’s easy to see the traits of a fool in others, but what about in

our own selves? Which, if any, of these character flaws might

you need first to recognize, and then seek by God’s grace to

overcome?

sunday

February 2

The Fear of the Wise

Read

Proverbs 14 again. What does it say about the wise?

________________________________________________________

The wise speak humbly (Prov. 14:3). The wise restrain the use of

their lips. Their silent reflection is motivated by a lack of arrogant

self- assurance. The wise give consideration to the other person’s ideas;

therefore, the wise will take time to think through and weigh the evi-

dence. They are also silent because they are listening, ready to learn

from others.

The wise value learning and knowledge (Prov. 14:6, 18). It is dif-

ficult for the fool to learn, because it is hard for him to sit at the feet

of a teacher; in contrast, it is easy for the wise to learn because of their

humility. They will thus enjoy the experience of learning and growing.

It is also this search for wisdom, for knowledge that they do not have,

which makes them wise.

The wise are cautious (Prov. 14:15). The wise know that sin and evil

exist. Therefore they will be careful where they walk. They will not trust

their feelings and personal opinions; they will check things out and ask

for advice. Yet they will always be careful about what other people say to

them; they will sort out the good from the bad (1 Thess. 5:21).

The wise are calm (Prov. 14:29, 33). The wise can stay quiet because

they do not rely on their “own ways,” but depend on “above” (vs. 14,

NKJV). It is their faith in God that allows them to relax and exercise

self-control (Isa. 30:15). It is the fear of God that gives them confi-

dence (Prov. 14:26).

The wise are compassionate and sensitive (Prov. 14:21, 31). The two

commandments, “You shall love the L your God” and “You shall

love your neighbor,” are linked (Mark 12:30, 31, NKJV). We can’t love

God and at the same time treat other people poorly. The greatest expres-

sion of our faith is how we deal with others, especially those in need.

“We do not realize how many of us walk by sight and not by faith.

We believe the things that are seen, but do not appreciate the

precious promises given us in His Word.”—Ellen G. White, Our

High Calling, p. 85. What does it mean to walk by faith and not

by sight? How are we supposed to do that?

Monday

February 3

“The Eyes of the Lord”

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the

evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3, NKJV). How does this text make you

feel, and why?

________________________________________________________

In the next two chapters of Proverbs, the tone changes. These chap-

ters are more theological than the preceding ones. The Lord is refer-

enced more often than in previous proverbs. We are also told something

amazing about Him: that His eyes are in every place (Prov. 15:3).

This acute consciousness of the Lord’s presence is precisely what the

ancient Israelites called “the fear of the L.” The same association is

found in the Psalms: “the eye of the L is on those who fear Him”

(Ps. 33:18, NKJV). Likewise, Job describes God as the One who looks

to the ends of the earth and sees all that happens under the heavens (Job

28:24). Because of this, Job concludes that “the fear of the L . . .

is wisdom” (Job 28:28).

This proverb reminds us of God’s ability to see good and evil, no

matter where they are. As Solomon understood (1 Kings 3:9), true

wisdom is the ability to discern between good and evil. On a human

level, this awareness should help us to remember always to do good and

never evil, for God sees all that we do, even if no one else does. We fool

ourselves, thinking that because, for now, we get away with evil, that we

really do get away with it. In the long run, we never do.

Let us, therefore, be diligent, for “there is no creature hidden from

His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom

we must give account” (Heb. 4:13, NKJV).

Read Proverbs 15:3, Isaiah 5:20, and Hebrews 5:14. What crucial

message do these verses have for us, especially in an age when the

very concepts of “good and evil” are often blurred, with people

claiming that good and evil are relative or just human ideas that

have no objective existence apart from what we say they are?

What is so wrong with such a notion of good and evil, and why is

it so dangerous to hold?

Tuesday

February 4

The Joy of the Lord

Read

Proverbs 15. Why is joy such an important human asset?

________________________________________________________

Scripture does not promise us a life without trials. As Jesus Himself

said, “ ‘Sufficient for the day is its own trouble’ ” (Matt. 6:34, NKJV).

Proverbs 15:15 explains that amid evil days, the one who maintains a

merry heart will have a better time of it. Pain, suffering, and trials will

come, and often we can’t control when and how. What we can control,

at least to some degree, is how we choose to respond.

Read

Proverbs 15:14, 23. What is God’s part in this joy?

________________________________________________________

Although the biblical text does not explicitly mention the reason for

joy, the parallel thought between verses 13 and 14 suggests that the

“merry heart” is “the heart of him who has understanding” (NKJV). It

is the heart of the one who has faith and sees redemption beyond the

immediate ordeal. This is why faith in God is so important; this is why

it’s so crucial that we know for ourselves, from our own experience,

the reality of God and His love. Then, whatever trials come, whatever

suffering we face, those with understanding can endure, because they

know for themselves God’s love.

Proverbs 15:23 brings us another important idea. Joy comes more

from what we give than from what we receive. It is the good word

shared with others that will bring joy to the giver. Who hasn’t experi-

enced the blessings that come from blessing others, whether in word or

in deed or both? As we have already seen in Proverbs, our words are

powerful. They can do great good or great evil. And how much better it

is when they do great good, not only for the one for whom the good is

done, but for the one who does it.

How well do you know, for yourself, God’s love? What are things

you could do that could help open up your heart to this crucial

truth? Consider how much better life would be if you knew the

reality of God’s love.

Wedne sday

The Sovereignty of God

We all dream and make plans, and yet things turn out differently,

sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. The Bible acknowl-

edges the value of human responsibility and freedom. Yet the Bible also

affirms God’s control over the course of events (see Prov. 20:24, 21:31,

and Daniel 2 and 7).

What

does Proverbs 16:1 say? How are we to understand this text?

________________________________________________________

We prepare and make plans, but the last word still belongs to God.

This does not mean that our preparations are worthless. But in the life

of faith, if we just submit our plans to God, He will work with them,

and our plans will be directed (Prov. 16:9) and ultimately established

by Him (vs. 3). Even the work of our enemies will be used in our behalf

(vss. 4, 7).

Though these are not simple ideas to grasp, especially when we face

difficult situations, they should give us comfort and help us learn to

trust God, even when things seem to go terribly wrong, and when our

plans don’t turn out as we had hoped. The key point for us is to learn

to surrender all to God; if we do that, we can be sure of His guidance,

even in the hardest times.

Read

Proverbs 16:18, 19. What is the place of ambition in human suc-

cess?

________________________________________________________

As always, the Bible warns against pride. After all, as fallen beings,

what do we have to be proud of ? What vice is more contrary to God

than pride, the first sin? (See Ezek. 28:17.) Jesus emphatically taught

about the iniquity of seeking to be great, and He urged His disciples to

seek humility instead (Matt. 20:26–28).

Read

Proverbs 16:33. What is the place of chance in human success?

________________________________________________________

The Bible does not make room for chance. For even when one thinks

that the course of events is dictated by chance, we can trust that God

is still in control.

As we seek to understand why things happen, how does the real-

ity of the great controversy help us work through some difficult

issues regarding why things happen as they do?

Thurs day

February 5

February 6

Further Study:

“From the beginning Satan has portrayed to men the

gains to be won by transgression. Thus he seduced angels. Thus he

tempted Adam and Eve to sin. And thus he is still leading multitudes

away from obedience to God. The path of transgression is made to appear

desirable; ‘but the end thereof are the ways of death.’ Proverbs 14:12.

Happy [are] they who, having ventured in this way, learn how bitter are

the fruits of sin, and turn from it betimes.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs

and Prophets, p. 720.

“Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does

a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy,

discontented thoughts and feelings—as much a duty as it is to pray. If

we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groan-

ing and complaining all along the way to our Father’s house? Those

professed Christians who are constantly complaining, and who seem

to think cheerfulness and happiness a sin, have not genuine religion.”

—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 251.

Discussion Questions:

 Discuss the idea that we have only a limited view of reality.

What does this mean? What things are out there that we know are

real, yet we just can’t sense them, in any way? For instance, how

many radio waves (cell phone calls, satellite programs, radio pro-

grams) are in the air all around you right now, and yet you can’t

see, hear, or feel them at all? How should the existence of such

realities help us to understand how limited our senses are? How

should this understanding help us to realize the reality of other

things that we can’t see, such as angels?

 Why is it important to understand the reality of human free

will and free choice, even if God is ultimately in control? Though

these concepts (human free choice, God’s sovereignty) seem to be

in contradiction, both are taught in the Bible, so how can we rec-

oncile them?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

tory

inside

“They Deserve a Chance Too”

When Paul and Christie Brown moved into a less-than-desirable

neighborhood in Elkins, West Virginia, they didn’t know that their

home would become a magnet for young people.

“I’ve always been youth focused,” says Paul, “so when the neighbor-

hood kids wanted to hang out with our kids at the house, we said, ‘OK,

but there are rules:

“‘1. Respect. You will treat yourself and others respectfully, with no

swearing and no name calling.

“‘2. No lying. You lie to me, and it’s done—you are out the door.

“ ‘3. Health and dietary issues—no drugs, no alcohol, no unclean

meat.’”

Once the young people understood about clean and unclean foods,

they tried sharing what they had learned with their families. “The grand-

father would be cooking a groundhog,” says Paul, “but the kids would

tell him, ‘No! We’re not going to eat that!’”

Before long, the visitors were asking to move in with the Browns.

“Brayden spends every weekend at our house,” says Paul. “It’s his

Sabbath retreat and gets him away from his house.” During the week,

Brayden tries to avoid his abusive, alcoholic stepfather as much as pos-

sible.

Hunter and Wyatt are two others who spend more time with the

Browns than at home. Coming from difficult situations, both of the

boys feel safe with Paul and Christie, whom they consider to be their

surrogate parents.

“I try to treat all the kids as if they’re my kids,” says Paul, “because

they deserve a chance too.” That includes providing clothing, bicycles,

and various other items. “Even the vehicle I drive—an extended-cab

truck—is based on how many kids we’re looking after, so we can take

them to and from school.”

With parental permission, the Browns have taken Brayden and Hunter

with them to Pathfinders and to church and are even paying for them

to attend the local Seventh-day Adventist church school. Unfortunately,

Wyatt’s mother will not give permission for him to join in these activi-

ties; but for Brayden and Hunter, their experience has been life chang-

ing. On November 2, 2013, both boys, along with the Browns’ son, Payton,

were baptized at the Elkins Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“We’ve been living here for three years now,” Paul says, “and my wife

really feels that the Lord put us in this neighborhood. It’s not where we

would have chosen, but we are sure that the Lord led us here.”

* All names of neighborhood children have been changed.

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Dealing With Fights

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Proverbs 17, 1 Cor. 13:5–7,

John 8:1–11, Proverbs 18, 19, Deut. 24:10–22.

Memory Text:

“Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house

full of feasting with strife” (Proverbs 17:1, NKJV).

roverbs again denounces the deception of appearances. We may

seem to have everything the world offers—wealth, power, plea-

sure, fame—yet, behind the facade, tension and misery flourish.

It’s even possible that the cause of this tension and misery is precisely

the wealth and pleasure that people strive so hard for. As an Egyptian

proverb notes: “Better is bread with a happy heart than wealth with

vexation.”—Miriam Lichtheim, The New Kingdom, vol. 2 of Ancient

Egyptian Literature: A Book of Readings (Los Angeles: University of

California Press, 2006), p. 156. According to the book of Proverbs, the

first step to solve this problem is to recognize what our priorities are:

peaceful relationships are more important than wealth (Prov. 17:1).

What counts is not so much what we have, but who we are within our-

selves. The advice that follows will help in restoring this priority and

lead us toward an inner peace (shalom in the Hebrew) that will add to

our happiness.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 14.

*February 7–13

Lesso n

February 8

Sin and Friends

Read

Proverbs 17:9, 19:11. What crucial point is being made in these texts?

How should we deal with others who fall?

________________________________________________________

When someone messes up, it’s so tempting to spread the story, to tell

others, Have you heard about what so-and-so did? Though we might

act as if we are appalled by the action, we still like telling others about

what happened. In short, we are gossiping, and that’s what we’re being

warned against, because this behavior will generate contention, even

between close friends. After all, if a friend of yours messes up, what

kind of friend are you if you go around telling others about it?

We are advised instead to “cover” the mistake. This is not, however,

to imply that we have to hide the sin, to act as if it never happened, as if

the person never did wrong. The sin that is covered is still present, even

though hidden. In fact, the Hebrew word for “cover” in that expression

has the specific connotation of “forgiving” (Ps. 85:2, Neh. 4:5). Love,

not gossip, should be our response to someone else’s mistake.

Read

Proverbs 17:17 and 1 Corinthians 13:5–7. How does love help in

coping with a friend’s mistake?

________________________________________________________

One does not love a friend or spouse because he or she is perfect. We

love in spite of their mistakes and flaws. Only through love do we learn

not to judge others, because with our own faults and shortcomings we

could be just as guilty. Instead, we can mourn with them over what they

have done, and seek in whatever way we can to help them work through

it. After all, what are friends for if not for this?

Think about a time you messed up badly and you were forgiven,

ministered to, and comforted. What does that tell you about how,

if possible, you should do the same for others?

sunday

February 9

Be Just!

True love is not blind. That we “cover” someone’s mistake through

love does not mean that we do not see the sin and do not recognize it

as such. Love and justice go together. The Hebrew word for “justice,”

zedeq, also means “love,” “charity.” We cannot have real compassion if

we are not just, and we cannot be just if we do not have compassion and

love. The two concepts must be together.

For example, the exercise of charity toward the poor should not be

done at the expense of justice; hence the recommendation not to favor

the poor in court (Exod. 23:3). If love obliges us to help the poor, it

would be unjust to favor them when they are wrong, simply because

they are poor. Justice and truth should therefore go along with love and

compassion. It is this wise balance that characterizes the torah, the law

of God, and which is taught and promoted in the book of Proverbs.

Read

Proverbs 17:10, 19:25. What do they say about the need for

rebuke and confrontation?

________________________________________________________

The fact that Proverbs 17:10 immediately follows the call to cover

the mistake through love (vs. 9) is not an accident. This mention of

“reproof ” in connection with “love” places love in the right perspective.

The text implies a strong rebuke.

Read

John 8:1–11. How do we see Jesus dealing with open sin?

________________________________________________________

“In His act of pardoning this woman and encouraging her to live a

better life, the character of Jesus shines forth in the beauty of perfect

righteousness. While He does not palliate sin, nor lessen the sense of

guilt, He seeks not to condemn, but to save. The world had for this

erring woman only contempt and scorn; but Jesus speaks words of

comfort and hope. The Sinless One pities the weakness of the sinner,

and reaches to her a helping hand. While the hypocritical Pharisees

denounce, Jesus bids her, ‘Go, and sin no more.’ ”—Ellen G. White,

The Desire of Ages, p. 462.

Monday

February 10

Words, Again

Read

Proverbs 18. Though different themes are presented here, focus

on what it has to say about our words. What important concepts are

presented here regarding what we do or do not say?

________________________________________________________

We are again confronted with the reality and power of words; in this

case we see how fools use their mouths to their own undoing. Verse 13

is especially enlightening. How easy it is to speak out before carefully

listening and discerning what has been said to us. How many times

might we have spared ourselves, and others, undue pain and strife if

we had only learned to think through carefully what we had just heard

before responding to it. There is indeed a time when silence is the best

response.

Read

Proverbs 18:4. Why are the words of the wise like deep waters?

________________________________________________________

The image of “deep waters” is used positively in the book of Proverbs

to represent wisdom (Prov. 20:5). It conveys the idea of quiet, but also

of profundity and riches. The wise are not superficial. They draw their

words from the depths of personal reflection and experience. Who

hasn’t marveled sometimes at the deep thoughts and insights from

those who obviously have wisdom and knowledge?

Read

Proverbs 18:21. What does it mean?

________________________________________________________

Proverbs again tells us what we should already know: our words are

powerful, and they can be a force for good or evil, even life and death.

How careful we need to be, then, with how we use this powerful tool.

Think about a time someone’s words hurt you in a terrible way.

What should this have taught you about how powerful words

are? What should it teach you about how careful you need to be

with what you say?

Tuesday

February 11

Two Sides to a Story

Read

Proverbs 18:2. Why don’t fools need time to form their opinions?

________________________________________________________

Fools are so sure of themselves and so eager to express their own

opinions that they are not interested in learning from others. Their

closed minds go along with their open mouths. This is a deadly combi-

nation. How careful we need to be that we don’t find ourselves doing

the same thing, especially on a topic that we are convinced we are right

about.

After all, haven’t we all at some point felt very strongly about a sub-

ject only to find, later on, that we were wrong? This doesn’t mean that

we should be wishy-washy in our views; it means only that we need

some humility, in that none of us has all the right answers, and even

when our answers are right, truth is often deeper and more nuanced

than we can appreciate or understand.

Read

Proverbs 18:17. What important point is given to us here?

________________________________________________________

Only God does not need a second opinion, precisely because by His

nature He already has it, for His eyes are everywhere (Prov. 15:3). God

has the capacity to see all sides of any matter. We, by contrast, generally

have a very narrow view of everything; a view that tends to get even

narrower when we get locked into a position, especially on matters that

we think are important.

As we should know by now, however, there are always two or even

more sides to any story, and the more information we have, the better

we can form the right view of a subject.

Think of a time you were absolutely convinced of something,

maybe a view you have held your whole life, only to find out later

that you had been wrong your whole life. What should this tell

you about your need to be open to the possibility that you could

be wrong about things you are fervent about now?

Wedne sday

Be Truthful

A king needed to appoint a new minister to the highest office of his

kingdom. For this purpose, he organized a special contest on lying:

who could utter the biggest lie. All his ministers applied, and each one

came and spoke their biggest lie. But the king was not satisfied; their

lies seemed lame. The king then asked his closest and most trusted

counselor: “Why didn’t you apply?”

The counselor answered, “I am sorry to disappoint you, Majesty, but

I cannot apply.”

“Why not?” asked the king.

“Because I never lie,” the counselor replied.

The king decided to appoint him to the position.

As sinners, lying comes to us easier than we think; for this reason,

again, how careful we need to be with our words.

Read

Proverbs 19. Though many themes are presented there, what does

it say about lying?

________________________________________________________

The book of Proverbs upholds a high ethical standard. It is better to

remain poor, or even to lose a promotion, if we have to lie in order to get

it, if we have to sacrifice our integrity (Prov. 19:1), if we have to cheat,

or if it comes at the price of faithfulness (vs. 22).

Read

Proverbs 19:9. What is the responsibility of a witness?

________________________________________________________

Lying, in and of itself, is bad enough; but doing it in court and under

oath is even worse. In many countries perjury is a crime, and a seri-

ous one at that. The witness must therefore give a truthful testimony.

It is no accident that this verse follows the mention of a “friend to one

who gives gifts” (vs. 6, NKJV), and of the poor who are hated by their

friends and even their brothers (vs. 7, NKJV). The point is, witnesses

must not be influenced by bribes or by the social status of those they

are testifying about.

Read Deuteronomy 24:10–22. What important principle is seen

here, and how should we apply this to ourselves and to our deal-

ings with those who are needy?

Thurs day

February 12

February 13

Further Study:

“The spirit of gossip and talebearing is one of Satan’s

special agencies to sow discord and strife, to separate friends, and to

undermine the faith of many in the truthfulness of our positions. Brethren

and sisters are too ready to talk of the faults and errors that they think

exist in others, and especially in those who have borne unflinchingly the

messages of reproof and warning given them of God.”—Ellen G. White,

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 195.

“The children of these complainers listen with open ears and receive

the poison of disaffection. Parents are thus blindly closing the avenues

through which the hearts of the children might be reached. How many

families season their daily meals with doubt and questionings. They

dissect the characters of their friends, and serve them up as a dainty

dessert. A precious bit of slander is passed around the board to be

commented upon, not only by adults, but by children. In this God is

dishonored. Jesus said: ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the

least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.’ Therefore Christ is

slighted and abused by those who slander His servants.”—Testimonies

for the Church, vol. 4, page 195.

Discussion Questions:

 It’s always hard when those you love or care about mess up.

And it’s so easy to try to cover up for them. How do we strike the

right balance in situations like these? Certainly, we need to show

grace, as we have been shown grace for our errors—that goes

without saying. But does grace always, or ever, mean that a person

can sin with impunity and not face consequences? What then is

the right course to take in situations like these?

 As the lesson said this week, most things in life are very com-

plicated and have many facets to them. So, even those things we

happen to be right about will usually be more complex than we

understand them to be. How can we learn to be open-minded

while at the same time not being foolish about it?

 What are some ways we can lie without ever using words?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

tory

inside

“Your Parents Should Be Very

Proud of You”

“My dog’s been shot!” Brayden blurted out in tears to his friend

Payton. “Would you speak at his funeral?”

Twelve-year-old Payton had never conducted a funeral, but wanting

to help his friend, he agreed to do what he could. “I planned the whole

thing out,” he said. “The dog is buried in my yard—Brayden and I dug

his grave.” After Payton performed the eulogy, the boys added the dog’s

dish, collar, and squeaky toy before filling the grave.

When Payton and his family first moved into the neighborhood,

Payton befriended Brayden and learned about the struggles he was fac-

ing at home. “I told him that I was a Christian and shared my beliefs

with him,” says Payton, “and then he told me, ‘I want to try that out!’”

Brayden began spending more time at Payton’s house and often spent

the night—especially on Fridays, so he could go with Payton and his

family to church the next day. Before long, Brayden’s cousin, Hunter,

wanted to stay with Payton too, “So I was housing three people in my

room,” Payton explains.

While Payton’s bedroom may be small, his heart is big. He

befriended another neighbor, Wyatt, whose father committed suicide.

Wyatt had been kicked out of several public schools at the age of 13,

and his mother didn’t know what to do with him. Payton spent time

with Wyatt and invited him to come with him to Pathfinders and to

church, along with the other boys, but Wyatt’s mother would not allow

her son to join in.

During the next three years, Payton often shared his faith with Wyatt,

and one day after hearing that they might be moving, Wyatt handed

Payton and his sister, Stormy, a note. The note is so precious that

Payton keeps it in the family safe.

“Dear Payton and Stormy,

“Before you move, I want to thank you. When you first came, I had

lost my way. I stopped going to church and didn’t plan on coming back.

When we became friends, I was trying to act tough, but on the inside,

I wanted to be more like you, Payton. When the hard times came and

I lost my father, talking to you was a comfort. I learned about God

through you. You were and still are a hero, inspiration, and role model

to me. Your parents should be very proud of you, knowing that you

helped me find Jesus.”

Words of Wisdom

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Proverbs 20; 1 Cor. 12:14–26;

Jer. 9:23, 24; Proverbs 21; Matt. 25:35–40; Proverbs 22.

Memory Text:

“Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but

who can find a faithful man?” (Proverbs 20:6, NKJV).

o some degree (a great degree, actually), we are all products of

our environment. Though heredity plays a big role, the values

we hold come to us from what is around us—our home, our

education, our culture. From infancy we are impacted by what we see

and hear.

Unfortunately, what we see and hear isn’t always the best for us; the

world around us is fallen in every way, and it cannot help impacting us

negatively. Nevertheless, we have been given the promise of the Holy

Spirit, and we have God’s Word, which points us to something higher

and better than the world does.

This week we will look at various proverbs and the practical truths

they express, truths that, if taken to heart and followed, can, indeed,

help us to overcome the negativity of this fallen world and prepare us

for a better one.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 21.

*February 14–20

Lesso n

February 15

We Are All Equal

Read

Proverbs 20:12. What does this teach us about the value of all

humans?

________________________________________________________

Unlike the theory of evolution, which considers us all to be nothing

but chance products of a mindless cosmos, the Bible teaches that all

humans were created by God (see also Acts 17:26). It is no accident,

either, that Thomas Jefferson asserted the equality of all humans pre-

cisely because they were “created” by God. It’s in the Lord, and in Him

alone, that we have our equality.

Now, though we all have the same Maker, this doesn’t mean we are

all the same. Even identical twins don’t wind up behaving exactly

alike. In Corinthians, Paul talks about our differences, and stresses

that they should not lead to a sense of superiority but should, instead,

help us to see our need for one another. “The eye cannot say to the

hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have

no need of you’ ”(1 Cor. 12:21, NKJV).

Read

Proverbs 20:9. What else makes us all equal?

________________________________________________________

Sin is another universal equalizer. To the rhetorical question of the

proverb, the answer “no one” points to the tragic and hopeless condi-

tion of humankind. Humans are all weak and mortal, and all the money

and power in the world will not change that. Yet, in the context of

the Scriptures, this reference to human sinfulness should not lead to

despair, because Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection have

paved the way for anyone, no matter how sinful, to have the promise

of eternal life. And this life comes solely through faith in Him—not by

our works.

“If man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, then

it must be wholly of grace, received by man as a sinner because he

receives and believes in Jesus. It is wholly a free gift. Justification by

faith is placed beyond controversy. And all this controversy is ended, as

soon as the matter is settled that the merits of fallen man in his good

works can never procure eternal life for him.”—Ellen G. White, Faith

and Works, p. 20.

Do you ever find yourself feeling superior (or inferior) to other

people? (You shouldn’t be comparing yourself to others anyway.)

If so, what should the Cross tell you about the equality of us all?

sunday

February 16

The Test of Life

“ ‘Their works follow them,’ ” says Revelation 14:13 (NKJV) about the

reward of the righteous. Only the future will testify to the real value of

the individual. People may boast now of their wealth, their knowledge,

their physical prowess, and maybe that is all true. But what does it mean

in the sight of God? So often the traits, accomplishments, and deeds that

humans uplift as important or impressive are shown to be the meaning-

less dross that they really are. After all, look at some of the despicable

characters, often in the entertainment industry, who are all but worshiped

and adored by fans. What we idolize and worship presents a powerful

testimony to how fallen we are.

Read

Proverbs 20:6 (see also Jer. 9:23, 24; Mark 9:35). What are these

texts telling us about what is of true value to God?

________________________________________________________

It is not the single sensational act of love or sacrifice that will demon-

strate the high quality of our relationships, but the long and regular series

of small actions that we perform day by day, patiently and surely. The

daily meal served to your spouse, the constant attention to a sick parent,

the continued effort in your job; all these humble acts throughout life are

the evidence that your faith is authentic. Enduring faithfulness is more

valuable than intense but rare acts of love.

This principle holds true for our relationship with God, as well. It is

more difficult and more valuable to live for God than to die for Him, if

for no other reason than that living takes more time than dying. The saint

who lives for God is greater than the martyr who dies for Him. Anyone

can claim to believe in God and to serve Him; the question is: Does it

last? Or, as Jesus said, “ ‘He who endures to the end shall be saved’ ”

(Matt. 24:13, NKJV).

How, through patience, kindness, and a willingness to meet oth-

er’s needs, can you reveal to someone something of the character

of Christ? How willing are you to do this, no matter the cost to

yourself?

Monday

Waiting for the Lord

Read

Proverbs 20:17, 21:5. What practical lesson can we find in these

texts?

________________________________________________________

The thief who steals bread gets it faster than the one who has to work

for it. Salespeople who lie to sell their bad merchandise may become

rich faster than the honest merchant (compare Prov. 21:5 to the next

verse). Yet, says the proverb, the future will turn the sweetness into

“gravel,” and the hastily acquired wealth will become poverty. The text

gives a number of examples to illustrate the accuracy of this observa-

tion:

1. The Inheritance (Prov. 20:21). The mention of an inheritance

obtained too quickly (implying that the parents are still alive) follows

the condemnation of the one who curses his parents (vs. 20). The asso-

ciation of these two proverbs is significant. It is as if the son (or the

daughter) curses the parents and also wishes them dead. The child may

even have plotted the death of the parents in order to get the inheri-

tance. The prospect of this behavior is tragic: the lamp he is presently

enjoying will become “deep darkness” (vs. 20, NKJV) and his curse

against his parents will turn on him, for he “will not be blessed at the

end” (vs. 21, NKJV).

2. Revenge (Prov. 20:22). This time the proverb addresses the vic-

tim who may be tempted to seek revenge for the evil that has been

committed against him. The counsel is just to “wait for the L”

(NKJV). Only then will you be saved, which implies that if you do

seek revenge you are taking a serious risk. Proverbs 25:21, 22 empha-

sizes the same instruction, using the metaphor of heaping coals of fire

on the enemy’s head, an Egyptian ritual expressing repentance and

conversion. If you refrain from revenge, promises Proverbs 20:22,

you will be saved by the Lord and, in the process (adds Proverbs

25:21, 22) you will save your enemy, thus overcoming evil with good

(Rom. 12:21).

How can you learn to emulate the character of Christ more

closely when it comes to overcoming evil with good? Why is this

so contrary to our inherent nature? Why is death to self the only

way to achieve this end?

Tuesday

February 17

February 18

Compassion for the Poor

A person’s character is measured less by wisdom or even religious

commitments than by readiness to help the poor and the needy. It is

not what you have that measures your character. Who you are to your

neighbor is the measure of character. The Samaritan who saves his

neighbor is closer to the kingdom of God than the spiritual priest (Luke

10:26–37). The book of Proverbs emphasizes and explains this priority.

For God’s sake: The first reason to make this a priority lies in God

Himself, who prefers human compassion for the poor over our religious

zeal (Prov. 19:17, 21:13). Your sensitivity to the poor and your concrete

deeds on their behalf will count more with God than will any of your

pious acts. In fact, God is personally invested in that work, so much so

that, when we give to the poor, it is as if we are giving to God Himself

(Matt. 25:35–40).

Read

Matthew 25:35–40. What does this tell us about how Jesus iden-

tifies so closely with those in need? How should this truth impact

how we relate to such people?

________________________________________________________

For the sake of the poor: The second reason lies within the poor

person, whom God has created just as He has created the rich person

(Prov. 22:2). The equality between humans, based on the fact that God

has created them all, makes the poor as worthy of attention as the rich

person. We should love our neighbors for who they are: beings made

in the image of God.

At the same time, think about how much good it does you to help

those in need. Our basic natures are selfish; by default we tend to look

out for ourselves over and above others. By giving of ourselves, we

learn to die to self and to better reflect Christ’s character, and what is

of more value to us than that?

In what ways do you get a greater sense of personal satisfaction

from helping others in need than only doing things for yourself?

Wedne sday

Education

The Hebrew word for “education” comes from a word that means

“to build up” and “to begin.” All these meanings are contained in the

Hebrew idea of education: when we “train up a child” (Prov. 22:6), we

build up, we begin, and we lay the groundwork for the future. Parents

and educators are therefore responsible for their children’s future and,

by implication, the future of the world. What we do with our children

today will impact society for generations to come.

Read

Proverbs 22:6. What does this say about the importance of edu-

cating children correctly?

________________________________________________________

It is significant that the Hebrew word for “educate” is the very word

used for the “dedication” of the temple (1 Kings 8:63). Early education

means to dedicate our children to God in the same way that the temple is

dedicated to God. Education has an impact on our salvation, even beyond

our own life. “To parents is committed the great work of educating and

training their children for the future, immortal life.”—Ellen G. White,

Child Guidance, p. 38. Such education has an eternal effect. The apostle

Paul seems to allude to Proverbs 22:6 when he commends Timothy for

his early training in the knowledge of “the Holy Scriptures, which are

able to make you wise for salvation” (2 Tim. 3:15, NKJV).

Read

Proverbs 22:8, 15. What principles do we find here?

________________________________________________________

Education can be compared to the activity of “sowing.” The future

of our society and of our children depends on what we have sown. If

our seed was “iniquity,” then our education (“the rod”) will fail, and we

shall reap trouble (vs. 8). If our seed touched the hearts of the children

(vs. 15), then the rod of our education will drive the children’s foolish-

ness far from them.

We so often teach others (especially children) by our example.

Think about your example: What kind of legacy are you leaving?

In what areas, if any, might your example be better?

Thurs day

February 19

February 20

Further Study:

“Parents should be models of truthfulness, for this is the

daily lesson to be impressed upon the heart of the child. Undeviating

principle should govern parents in all the affairs of life, especially in the

education and training of their children. . . . Parents, never prevaricate;

never tell an untruth in precept or in example. If you want your child

to be truthful, be truthful yourself.”—Ellen G. White, Child Guidance,

p. 151.

“Many fathers and mothers seem to think that if they feed and clothe

their little ones, and educate them according to the standard of the world,

they have done their duty. They are too much occupied with business or

pleasure to make the education of their children the study of their lives.

They do not seek to train them so that they will employ their talents for

the honor of their Redeemer. Solomon did not say, ‘Tell a child the way

he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ But, ‘Train

up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart

from it.’ ”—Ellen G. White, Child Guidance, p. 38.

Discussion Questions:

 Dwell more on the idea of Proverbs 22:6. Why must we be

careful in how we apply this? That is, many parents have done a

good job in rearing their children, and yet as adults those chil-

dren make wrong choices. Why must we never forget the reality of

free will and the reality of the great controversy as we look at the

meaning of this text?

 Look again at the final question at the end of Wednesday’s

study. What does it tell us about ourselves that we get such a sense

of satisfaction from helping others, especially when we get noth-

ing in return? What should this truth tell us about why so many

people who have so much of the world’s riches are miserable none-

theless?

 Though we are not all equal in talents, education, experience,

and so forth, we are equal in the most important thing: we all need

the Cross for salvation. What should this teach us about the basic

equality and worth of all human beings? More so, how should this

truth impact how we treat all people?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

tory

inside

Brayden’s Testimony

Paul Brown and his family are a true blessing to me. A few years

ago, when they moved in, my step-grandfather asked Paul if I could

mow Paul’s yard. Paul agreed, and soon a connection grew between

me and his family, and I found out what nice people they are. His

kids, Payton and Stormy, are very upbeat and friendly. Their mother,

Christie, is really nice and is always there to help me.

One day I asked Payton why they were always away on Saturdays. I

thought it was weird that I couldn’t do any work for them on that day.

Payton invited me to come to church with them. I liked it, but after a

while I started slacking off. Six months later I was back—this time to

stay.

I joined the Pathfinder Club. As we were coming back from a

campout, Payton, my cousin Hunter, and I were talking about school.

Hunter and I didn’t like our school because there were so many fights.

Hunter said that he hoped to someday go to a Christian college. Payton

asked, “Why don’t you just go to a Christian school?” Our parents

agreed to let us go to Highland Adventist School here in Elkins, and

Paul found sponsors for us. I like the school a lot. The teachers and

staff are really nice, and the students are friendly, not fighting.

One day as we were going to church, Payton said he wanted to get

baptized. Hunter and I said that we wanted to get baptized with him.

So we all took Bible studies together and were baptized on November

2, 2013.

The church members are the nicest people I’ve ever met. They are

always there for you. And the pastor, Dan, there’s something about his

preaching that just sticks with me. I like the people here a lot; they are

like my second family that I’ve always wanted.

Being able to come here and know about the Seventh-day Adventist

Church has been a real blessing to me. No one else in my family are

Adventists. They don’t understand why I don’t do some things I used to

do. My stepdad can’t understand why I don’t eat pork—all my life I’ve

eaten it, and at first it was hard not to eat it. But I’m glad I went off of

it. I’ve seen a change in my weight and my personality. Everything has

gone up since I was baptized.

Words of Truth

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Proverbs 22, 23, Exod. 22:21–

27, Proverbs 24, Eph. 5:20, Ezek. 33:8.

Memory Text:

“Have I not written to you excellent things of coun-

sels and knowledge, that I may make you know the certainty of the

words of truth, that you may answer words of truth to those who

send to you?” (Proverbs 22:20, 21, NKJV).

ome of this week’s proverbs show parallels with Egyptian texts.

Under inspiration, Solomon might have shaped these texts

according to a specifically Hebrew perspective. Here, the words

of the Egyptians meet the Spirit of Israel’s God, and thus they became

divine revelation.

This observation is important, for it reminds us of the universal

character of “truth.” What is true for the Israelite should also be true

for the Egyptian; otherwise, it would not be the truth. It is important to

remember that God’s truths apply universally, to everyone.

The domain of these admonitions is common to both communities.

That is, whoever you are, whether a believer or not, and wherever you

live, there are some things that you should not do.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 28.

*February 21–27

Lesso n

February 22

The Knowledge of Truth

Read

Proverbs 22:17, 18. What are we being told about how truth

should impact our lives?

________________________________________________________

The first duty of the student is to listen and pay attention: “Incline

your ear and hear” (Prov. 22:17, NKJV). In other words: “Concentrate!”

The crucial point is that the seeker of truth must be earnest, must truly

want to learn what is right, and then do it.

But it is not enough for the student to listen or even to understand,

intellectually, what is being taught. Some people who have a lot of

biblical facts in their heads have no real knowledge or experience with

the Truth itself (John 14:6).

Instead, truth should reach the innermost part of the human being.

The Hebrew phrase in Proverbs 22:18, “within you” (NKJV), refers

to the stomach. The lesson should not stay on the surface; it has to

be digested, assimilated, and become an inner part of our beings.

Once the message has gone deep into our system and becomes rooted

within us, it will then rise to our lips, and we can have a powerful

testimony.

Read

Proverbs 22:19–21. What should an experience in truth do for us?

________________________________________________________

1. Faith (vs. 19). The first goal of the teaching of wisdom is not wis-

dom per se. Proverbs does not aim at making more intelligent and more

skillful disciples. The teacher’s objective is to strengthen the disciple’s

trust in the Lord.

2. Conviction (vs. 21). Students should know why these “words of

truth” (NKJV) are certain; they should know why they believe what

they do. Faith by definition is belief in what we don’t fully understand.

Nevertheless, we still should have good reasons for that faith.

3. Responsibility (vs. 21). The last step of education is to share with

others those “words of truth” (NKJV) we have received. This is central

to our whole calling as a people.

Think about all the powerfully logical reasons we have for our

Seventh-day Adventist faith. What are these reasons, and why

should we never hesitate in keeping them ever before us and shar-

ing them with others? Bring your answer to class on Sabbath.

sunday

February 23

Robbing the Poor

Read

Proverbs 22:22, 23; 23:10. What are we warned about here?

________________________________________________________

Though it’s always wrong to steal, this prohibition concerns stealing

from the poor and the oppressed, who are the most vulnerable. They

are truly helpless, and therefore they qualify for God’s special concern

(Exod. 22:21–27). The case of David, who killed Uriah in order to steal

his wife, and Nathan’s parable of the ewe lamb (2 Sam. 12:1–4) come

to mind. Robbing from the poor is not just a criminal act: it is a sin

“against the L” (2 Sam. 12:13). To take from someone who has less

than what you have is worse than stealing; it is also an act of cowardice.

Do these thieves think that God doesn’t see their actions?

Indeed, Proverbs 22:23 implies that even if the thief gets away with

no human punishment, God will repay. The reference to the Redeemer,

the Goel (Prov. 23:11), may even allude to the divine scenario of end-

time judgment (Job 19:25).

So, this warning, along with others in the Bible, speaks against those

who are interested only in the immediate “gains” of their actions, and

not the long-term results. They take possession and enlarge their prop-

erties at the expense of others, and they are willing to cheat and kill

for that purpose. They may enjoy it now, but they will pay later. This

reasoning should not only discourage the thief; it should show that our

ethical values are intricately tied to the Sovereignty of God.

In England, some atheists had the following slogan placed on

city buses: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and

enjoy your life.” Though there are many retorts one could give in

response, think about this one: if there were no God, then those

who steal from the poor, and are getting away with it now, really

have nothing to worry about. Indeed, all those who have done great

evil and seem to have gotten away with it will, in fact, have really

gotten away with it. How should faith in God and in His promises

of judgment help to give us some peace of mind regarding all the

injustice we see in the world now?

Monday

Being Jealous of the Wicked

What

do Proverbs 23:17; 24:1, 2; and 24:19, 20 warn us about?

________________________________________________________

Why would someone envy the wicked? Most likely it’s not because of

the actual sins that they might be committing. Rather, it’s usually because

of the immediate gain (wealth, success, power) that they achieve through

their wickedness—that’s what people often covet for themselves.

Though, of course, not every successful or rich person is wicked,

some are—and they are probably the kind of people we are being

warned about in these verses. We see their “good” life and, from our

perspective, especially if we are struggling ourselves, it’s easy to envy

what they have.

This, though, is a very narrow and shortsighted view of things. After

all, the temptation of sin is that its reward is immediate: we enjoy the

present gratification. A perspective beyond the present can protect us

from temptation; that is, we need to look beyond the immediate “gains”

of our sin and think through the long-term consequences.

Besides, who hasn’t seen just how destructive sin is? We never get

away with it. We might be able to hide it from others so that no one,

even those closest to us, has a clue about what we are doing (though

sooner or later they catch on, don’t they?); or we might be able to

delude ourselves into thinking that our sins are not that bad. (After all,

look at how many people do worse things!) But sooner or later, one way

or another, sin catches up with us.

We should hate sin because it is sin. We should hate it because of

what it has done to us, to our world, and to our Lord. If we want to see

the real cost of sin, look at Jesus on the cross. This is what our sin has

cost. That realization alone should be enough (though so often it isn’t)

to make us want to avoid sin and to keep away as much as possible from

those who would lead us into it.

Have you ever struggled with envy over someone’s success?

What’s the best remedy for this spiritually deadly problem? (See

Eph. 5:20.)

Tuesday

February 24

February 25

What We Put in Our Mouths

It is no accident that the first human temptation concerned food (Gen.

3:3). It was being disobedient and eating of the wrong thing that brought

sin and death into the world (Gen. 3:1–7, Rom. 5:12). We shouldn’t miss

the hard fact, too, that the first mention of wine drinking in the Bible is

presented in a terribly negative and degrading story (Gen. 9:21).

Read

Proverbs 23:29–35. How is the use of alcohol presented in these

verses?

________________________________________________________

Who hasn’t seen personally just how devastating alcohol can be? Sure,

not everyone who drinks becomes a drunk in the gutter. But most likely

drunks in the gutter never imagined, the first time they took a drink, that

they would eventually wind up in the gutter.

“The man who has formed the habit of drinking intoxicating liquor, is

in a desperate situation. He cannot be reasoned with, or persuaded to deny

himself the indulgence. His stomach and brain are diseased, his will power

is weakened, and his appetite uncontrollable. The prince of the powers of

darkness holds him in bondage that he has no power to break.”—Ellen G.

White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1162.

Read

Proverbs 23:1–8. Why should we control our appetites?

________________________________________________________

This admonition is about more than table manners. The biblical text

is a warning to those who like to eat and who have great appetites (Prov.

23:2). The metaphor of putting a knife to one’s throat is particularly

strong: it not only means curbing the appetite, but also suggests the

risk to your health and even your life that could be caused by overeat-

ing. The Hebrew word (bin), translated “consider carefully,” expresses

the idea of carefully deciding between eating various kinds of food.

The same word is used by Solomon when he asks for wisdom to help

him “discern [bin] between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9, NKJV). The

inspired writer has more in mind than just the issue of appetite control.

His counsel may also concern banquets and social drinking, when we

are pressured and tempted to “desire his delicacies” (Prov. 23:3, NKJV).

Think about someone you know whose life has been destroyed by

alcohol. Why should that example alone be enough to help you to

understand why you should never put that poison in your body?

Wedne sday

Our Responsibilities

“When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’

and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked

man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your

hand” (Ezek. 33:8, NKJV). What basic spiritual principle is revealed

here? How do we take this concept and apply it to our everyday

lives?

________________________________________________________

Years ago, in a big Western city, a woman was being attacked at

night on a street. She cried out for help; dozens heard her, yet not one

person even bothered to call the police. Most people looked out the

window and then went back to whatever they were doing. Soon the

woman’s cries stopped. Later, she was found dead, stabbed numerous

times.

Were the people who heard her cries but did nothing responsible for

her death? Though they hadn’t attacked her themselves, did their inac-

tion kill her?

Read

Proverbs 24:11, 12, 23–28. What important messages are here

for us?

________________________________________________________

The law of Moses clearly warns that those who fail to report what

they witness will bear guilt (Lev. 5:1). We may not be able to act against

crime, but if we keep silent about what we see, we then share the guilt

with the criminal. By our silence, we become accomplices.

On the other hand, if we report the truth in our testimony, giving the

“right answer” (Prov. 24:26), we respond appropriately and behave as

responsible people. This act is compared to a kiss on the lips, meaning

that the person cares about another person.

It’s tragic enough to remain silent and do nothing as a woman

is being murdered on your street. But what about many of the

other evils in the world: hunger, war, injustice, racism, economic

oppression? What are our responsibilities here, as well?

Thurs day

February 26

February 27

Further Study:

“Souls around us must be aroused and saved, or they

perish. Not a moment have we to lose. We all have an influence that

tells for the truth or against it. I desire to carry with me unmistakable

evidences that I am one of Christ’s disciples. We want something besides

Sabbath religion. We need the living principle, and to daily feel indi-

vidual responsibility. This is shunned by many, and the fruit is careless-

ness, indifference, a lack of watchfulness and spirituality.”—Ellen G.

White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 99.

“Talk faith, live faith, cultivate love to God; evidence to the world

all that Jesus is to you. Magnify His holy name. Tell of His goodness;

talk of His mercy, and tell of His power.”—Ellen G. White, Our High

Calling, p. 20.

Discussion Questions:

 In class, go over your answer to Sunday’s final question. What

can we learn from each other’s answers? What are ways that we

can learn to build up our faith in what we believe?

 Someone wrote: “Remember two things: Christ died for

you, and you will one day die.” In the context of Tuesday’s study,

which talked about how we will have to answer for sin one way

or another, what crucial lesson should we take away from this

thought?

 Here again is the quote put on the buses in London: “There’s

probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” Besides

what the lesson talked about, what other problems do you find

with that sentiment? Why would God’s existence be something

that would make people worry to begin with? What does this sen-

timent tell us about how well Satan has distorted the character of

God in the minds of many people? In class, come up with different

ways in which you could respond to that slogan. What are some

short, pithy slogans that could help people to see the hope that we

can have in God?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

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Helping Mission Succeed

When Dan Jacko isn’t busy helping people learn to walk again, he’s

assisting his church members with their spiritual walk. Pastor Dan, a

professional physical therapist, is also serving as a lay pastor for the

Mountain View Conference in the two church district of Elkins and

Parsons, West Virginia. He also teaches biology and chemistry to the

academy level students at Highland Adventist School in Elkins. His

wife, Cheryl, is an educator and registered nurse and serves as the

principal of the kindergarten through twelfth grade school. Their son,

Jeremy, teaches Bible, math, and history.

Believing mission is important, every other year, Pastor Dan leads the

students and church members on a mission trip. So far, they’ve been to

Mexico, Panama, Honduras, and, in 2014, Costa Rica.

While in Costa Rica, they built a church during the day and presented

evangelistic meetings and Vacation Bible Schools in four different

churches in the evenings. In spite of his own full schedule, Pastor Dan

was impressed with the dedication of the pastor in Costa Rica, who

shepherds six churches and doesn’t have a car.

Not only do Pastor Dan and his members build churches abroad—

they also build them at home, where they recently completed their own

church and school, located on five and a half acres (2.2 hectares), com-

pletely debt-free.

The most recent challenge for Pastor Dan and the 80-member Elkins

church is keeping up with the many Bible study requests coming from

their community. Over the course of three mailings in 2013 and 2014,

everyone in the state of West Virginia received an invitation for the Voice

of Prophecy’s Discover Bible course. The response was overwhelming—

with 10,000 people indicating that they would like to have Bible studies.

Of that number, more than 200 came from the Elkins and Parsons area.

“Some are face-to-face Bible studies,” explains Pastor Dan, “and oth-

ers prefer to take them by correspondence, which are then graded by our

local church members.” The local churches are responsible for purchas-

ing the lessons and providing postage for correspondence students.

“What makes this area even more of a mission field,” says Pastor Dan,

“is that you’ll get a lot of people who say, ‘I believe this,’ but if their

family isn’t in favor of it, a lot of them just won’t make the commitment.”

Nevertheless, Pastor Dan and the small churches he leads see reaching

people for Jesus in their territory as an important mission and are willing

to give the time, effort, and funds needed to help it succeed.

Behind the Mask

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Prov. 25:2, 3; 26:11, 12;

1 Cor. 1:20, 21; Prov. 26:13–16; 27:5, 6.

Memory Text:

“Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and

do not stand in the place of the great” (Proverbs 25:6, NKJV).

ehind the dazzling serpent, who utters sweet words and who

seems so concerned with Eve’s happiness, hides the enemy who

plots her death (Gen. 3:1–6). Disguised as “an angel of light,”

Satan prepares the most dangerous traps for humankind (2 Cor. 11:14).

Even more dangerous and deceitful is self-pretension; when we claim

to be what we are not, we end up cheating others and even ourselves.

There are different ways to deceive. One of the most common is

through language. Some of the proverbs this week deal with words,

lying words, flattering words, pretty words that use nice sounds and

wonderful sentiments to cover ugly thoughts and intentions. We need

to be careful not only about what we say to others, but about how we

interpret what others say to us. Perhaps this week’s message could be

summed up this way: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst

of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves”

(Matt. 10:16).

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 7.

*February 28–March 6

Lesso n

March 1

The Mystery of God

Life is full of mysteries. Physicist David Deutsch wrote that “every-

day events are stupendously complex when expressed in terms of

fundamental physics. If you fill a kettle with water and switch it on, all

the supercomputers on Earth working for the age of the universe could

not solve the equations that predict what all those water molecules

will do—even if we could somehow determine their initial state and

that of all the outside influences on them, which is itself an intractable

task.”—David Deutsch, The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That

Transform the World (New York: Penguin, 2011), Kindle edition, loca-

tions 1972–1975.

If we are confounded about something as mundane as water mol-

ecules, how could we even begin to expect to understand the mysteries

of God?

Read

Proverbs 25:2, 3. What point is the author making, and how can

we apply it to a broader situation?

________________________________________________________

What makes the glory of God different from the glory of kings is His

“mysterious” nature, and by implication our human incapacity to fully

understand Him. The Hebrew root str (“conceal,” “hide”), from which

comes our word mystery, is often used in the Hebrew Scriptures to char-

acterize what makes God the only true God (Isa. 45:14, 15). There are

things about God that we simply cannot understand. On the other hand,

what makes the glory of kings is their willingness to be scrutinized.

Transparency and accountability should be the first quality of leader-

ship (Deut. 17:14–20). It is the king’s duty to “search out a matter”; that

is, to give an explanation for events and for what he is doing.

Life is so full of unanswered questions, isn’t it? In a split second,

seemingly random events can mean the difference between life

and death. Some people go from one tragedy to another, while

others do fine. All this should tell us that we need to live by faith.

What things are happening right now in your life that you have to

accept by faith, trusting in God? What other choice do you have?

sunday

March 2

The Fool as Wise

Though not a recent fabrication (especially in the Western world), the

idea has taken hold in recent years that argues for the relative nature

of truth. That is, what is true for one person, or one culture, might not

be true for another. While on one level this is always correct (some

places drive on the right side of the road, others on the left), on another

it’s a dangerous error, especially in the moral realm. Certain things are

right and others are wrong, regardless of where we live or our personal

preferences. In the end, we must always submit our views to the Word

of God and the truths found there. God’s Word must be our ultimate

source for knowing right and wrong, good and evil.

Read

Proverbs 26:11, 12. (See also Judg. 21:25; 1 Cor. 1:20, 21; 2:6, 7;

2 Cor. 1:12.) What must we all be careful not to do?

________________________________________________________

As we can see, this idea of doing what is right in one’s own eyes

is nothing new. Yet it was as wrong then as it is now. As we have

already seen, none of us understands everything; in fact, we don’t

fully understand anything. We all have areas where we need to grow

and learn, so we should always be open to the fact that we don’t have

all the answers.

In the case of fools, as seen in this proverb, the reason to be con-

cerned is that the influence of their folly will go beyond themselves.

They are now more convinced than ever of their wisdom; they will

therefore repeat their folly. They may even be so convincing that others

will think they are wise, will honor them, and consult them for advice,

which can lead to big problems (Prov. 26:8). Folly will spread, but

labeled as “wisdom,” it can be that much more damaging. Furthermore,

fools are so foolish that they are not aware of their folly.

How often are you tempted to compromise on what you know are

core values, core truths? What happens, however, when certain

core values collide? How can we know which ones trump the

others?

Monday

The Sluggard

“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring

it back to his mouth” (Prov. 26:15, NIV).

Just as with students who spend more time and energy preparing to

cheat on an exam than studying for it, it is ironic that lazy people work

hard to find excuses for their laziness!

Read

Proverbs 26:13–16. What are we being warned about here?

________________________________________________________

The lazy person may be right: “There is a lion in the road!” (Prov.

26:13, NKJV). Therefore, it is wiser to stay at home and not to confront

the danger. But by doing just that, we miss all the opportunities that life

offers. We will never enjoy the beauty of the rose if we do not run the

risk of being hurt by its thorns. We will not be able to move forward

if we are afraid of obstacles. People who do not dare to commit them-

selves will never taste the fullness of life.

Look at some of the other imagery in those verses. Just as the door

swings on its hinges but doesn’t go anywhere, lazy people turn in their

beds; that is, they just change position, but don’t go anywhere, either.

The other image, in verse 15, is even more startling. They can get

their hands into a dish of food but are too lazy to bring them back to

feed themselves.

But even worse is their intellectual laziness, their closed-mindedness

and certainty about their own positions. Therefore, they will always be

right, wiser than seven wise men (vs. 16), and will not be open to other

views, perhaps wiser than their own. Those who think they have all the

answers usually don’t.

“In the judgment men will not be condemned because they con-

scientiously believed a lie, but because they did not believe the

truth, because they neglected the opportunity of learning what

is truth.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 55. How

do we understand our role in giving others the “opportunity” to

learn what is truth? Where does our responsibility begin, and

where does it end?

Tuesday

March 3

March 4

The Friend as Enemy

If we are more disappointed by our friends than by our enemies, it is

because we expect good from our friends and evil from our enemies. It

doesn’t always work out that way, though, does it? That’s why Proverbs

warns us that sometimes a friend behaves like an enemy, and an enemy

like a friend.

Read

Proverbs 27:5, 6. When can rebuke be a sign of love?

________________________________________________________

Love is not just about kisses and sweet words. Love will sometimes

oblige us to rebuke our friend or our child, and it can run the risk of

appearing unpleasant, judgmental, and critical. We might even lose

friends if we speak out. Yet if we do not warn our friends about what

they are doing, especially if it will bring them harm, then what kind of

friend are we?

Open rebuke is also a sign that our love is not built on illusion and

pretension, but is based on truth and on trust.

Read

Proverbs 27:17. What can be the effect of confrontation between

friends?

________________________________________________________

The image of iron sharpening iron suggests a reciprocal benefit.

Friendship tested by true confrontation will improve not only the

quality of the friendship but also stimulate and strengthen both per-

sonalities. The respective weapons will gain in efficiency. We will end

up more equipped for our future struggles. People who take refuge in

themselves and their own ideas only, and never confront the challenge

of different views, will not grow in knowledge or in character.

Have you ever been rebuked for something that could have really

hurt you? Suppose you hadn’t been warned about it? Keeping

this in mind, if you need to do the same for someone else, how can

you do it in a redemptive manner, rather than in a judgmental

and critical way?

Wedne sday

The Enemy as Friend

Read

Proverbs 26:17–23. On the lines below, summarize what is being

said.

________________________________________________________

Proverbs, again, gets into the power of words, this time dealing with

the harm caused by slander and quarreling. Those who slander your

enemy before your face, to make you think they’re on your side, are

really like “charcoal”: they feed the quarrel and lead you into the fire

of more troubles (vs. 21, NKJV).

Likewise “fervent lips,” which sound so eloquent, can hide a “wicked

heart” (vs. 23, NKJV). The politician who wants to be elected, the sales-

man who wants to sell his wares, the playboy who wants to seduce a

woman—all of them know about the power of eloquence.

This passage’s lesson is that we should be careful not to believe in

every nice speech we hear. They can be dangerous precisely because

they are nice. Some people are very good speakers; they can sound

so persuasive, so sincere, and so caring, when inside, something

completely different is going on. Though we have all been victims

of people like this, who hasn’t at some point been guilty of doing the

same thing: saying one thing to a person but thinking or feeling some-

thing completely different? Proverbs, here, speaks strongly against this

deceptiveness.

“Everything that Christians do should be as transparent as the sun-

light. Truth is of God; deception, in every one of its myriad forms, is of

Satan. . . . It is not a light or an easy thing to speak the exact truth. We

cannot speak the truth unless we know the truth, and how often precon-

ceived opinions, mental bias, imperfect knowledge, errors of judgment,

prevent a right understanding of matters with which we have to do! We

cannot speak the truth unless our minds are continually guided by Him

who is truth.”—Ellen G. White, Reflecting Christ, p. 71.

How open and transparent are you in what you say? How much

of a disconnect, if any, is there between your words and your

thoughts? Do you really think that such duplicity can be main-

tained indefinitely? (See Matt. 10:26, 27.)

Thurs day

March 5

March 6

Further Study:

“The agency of the Spirit of God does not remove from

us the necessity of exercising our faculties and talents, but teaches us

how to use every power to the glory of God. The human faculties, when

under the special direction of the grace of God, are capable of being used

to the best purpose on earth. Ignorance does not increase the humility or

spirituality of any professed follower of Christ. The truths of the divine

word can be best appreciated by an intellectual Christian. Christ can be

best glorified by those who serve Him intelligently. The great object of

education is to enable us to use the power which God has given us in

such a manner as to represent the religion of the Bible and promote the

glory of God.

“We are indebted to Him who gave us existence, for the talents that

have been entrusted to us, and it is a duty we owe our Creator to culti-

vate and improve these talents.”—Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents,

Teachers, and Students, pp. 361, 362.

Discussion Questions:

 Discuss more about the mysteries that we find in everyday life,

whether in nature, in human interactions, or in questions about

faith and the nature of God and salvation. It’s one of the great

ironies of life that the more we learn, the more we realize how little

we know. Why is that even more true when it comes to spiritual

truths?

 What are some “truths” that are, indeed, relative, cultural,

and changing? How do we distinguish them from truths that are

eternal, universal, and immutable? Why is it so important that

we know the difference between them? Why is the confusion of

contingent truths with eternal truths one of the great dangers we

face?

 It has been said that smart people keep their friends close and

their enemies closer. What does that mean? As Christians, how are

we to relate to such a sentiment? In what way can Matthew 10:16

help?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

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Opening “a Lot More Doors”

In Bridgeport, West Virginia, the only Seventh-day Adventist church

in Harrison County meets each Sabbath in the local Presbyterian church.

Although they don’t have their own building yet, members of the Central

Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church are certainly building relationships.

In response to the Discover Bible School mailings, the Central Hills

church has received more than 300 requests for Bible studies just from

within Harrison County. Pastor James Volpe and his 30 church mem-

bers are doing their best to keep up. Some of the most active members

include Angela, 21, Heather, 20, and Lee, 22.

“We were driving from house to house,” remembers Heather, “handing

out the first two lessons, and asking people if they wanted to have per-

sonal visits or continue the lessons through the mail. One of the ladies

we met requested that we return so Angela and I decided that we would

do it. We studied with her every week.

“That winter, her son committed suicide. We quit doing Bible stud-

ies, but we’d still visit her. We helped her around Thanksgiving and

Christmas. Sometimes she comes to church.” Heather and Angela have

since resumed the Bible studies with this student.

While Lee doesn’t give personal Bible studies, he jumped in and orga-

nized the mailings. “I make sure the completed lessons get graded and

sent back so that person can start on the next lesson. If a month goes

by and we haven’t heard from the Bible student, then we follow up and

make sure that we keep in contact with them.”

While the members of the Central Hills church have been supportive,

the church’s young people have especially enjoyed being involved.

“Our youth group has gotten a lot stronger,” says Angela. “I’ve always

liked to be involved in some way; I just didn’t know how.”

“I think this is one of the first times we could put into practice all of

the stuff we hear every week, we could actually be a part of something

and watch the church grow,” adds Lee.

Heather believes that giving personal Bible studies is one of the best

methods for church growth and spiritual commitment. “All of the youth

were together, delivering the lessons. Then once Angela and I started

giving Bible studies, I enjoyed it. It made me grow spiritually.

“We had an [evangelistic] seminar coming to the area, but by us doing

the Bible studies and getting out—that helped our church to grow. It

opens a lot more doors.”

Living by Faith

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Prov. 28:4, 7, 9; Rom. 1:16, 17;

Gal. 3:24; Prov. 28:5; 1 John 2:15–17; Prov. 29:13.

Memory Text:

“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in

the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25, NKJV).

o many voices call to us from so many directions. How do people

know what is right and what is wrong? The answer is found in

God and His written revelation. We must learn to rely on God and

to obey His Law. The rest then will follow by itself.

Jesus told us this when He said to “ ‘seek first the kingdom of God,’ ”

and then all that we need will be supplied (Matt. 6:33, NKJV). We

are to make trusting and following God our first priority; otherwise,

we will make something else that priority, which is idolatry, pure and

simple. And we can learn to trust God only by living a life of faith. The

Christian walk is just that, a walk; we have to make the choices to do the

things that the Lord has told us to do, and then leave the consequences

to Him.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 14.

*March 7–13

Lesso n

March 8

Keep the Law

Out of 13 occurrences of the word torah—“law” or “teaching”—in

the book of Proverbs, four are in Proverbs 28 (vss. 4 [twice], 7, 9).

Although this use in Proverbs applies normally to the “teaching” of the

wise man (Prov. 13:14), in the Israelite tradition the word has a spiritual

connotation and refers to divine revelation, as attested in the book of

Proverbs itself (Prov. 29:18).

Read

Proverbs 28:4, 7, and 9. What do these verses tell us about the

importance of the law in how we live?

________________________________________________________

What made the people of Israel different from other nations was not

so much their way of thinking, or even their “spiritual” and abstract

theological views. It was their concrete choices in life about, among

other things, food, rest, the natural environment, and their relationships

with neighbors and family that made them “holy,” or “set apart” from

all the other nations. And, ideally, those choices were to center on the

law and the principles found in it.

After all, we humans cannot be wise by ourselves; we can’t always

even distinguish between good and evil (1 Kings 3:9). So, we need the

divine law to help us to acquire discernment. In other words, the acqui-

sition of wisdom does not depend on intellectual or spiritual exercises;

it is essentially related to obedience to a law that lies outside ourselves,

our culture, our personal psychology, and our desires.

This law is, of course, God’s eternal law. And to follow that law is

indeed an act of faith. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to

the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of

God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by

faith” (Rom. 1:16, 17).

What troubles and problems have you been spared because you

have made a commitment by faith to keep God’s law? How dif-

ferent would your life be were you not keeping it?

sunday

March 9

Seek the Lord

No matter how crucial it is to a life of faith, the law (the torah) is

not itself the source of life. On the contrary, the law points out sin, and

sin leads to death (see Rom. 7:7–13). Instead, what makes the torah

effective is that it comes from God. Apart from God, the torah would

be a legalistic creed that has nothing to do with His original intention.

A life of obedience to the law of God is related to a life with God. The

torah does not replace God; it is just a teacher that (according to Paul’s

analogy) leads the students to their Master (Gal. 3:24).

Read

Galatians 3:24 in context. How does the law point us to Jesus, so

that we can indeed be “justified by faith”?

________________________________________________________

The book of Proverbs is not just a book of wisdom; it is, first of all,

a book about the God who has revealed wisdom. Seeking wisdom by

obeying the law will draw us nearer to the Lord and to the salvation He

freely offers us by faith in Jesus.

Read

Proverbs 28:5. What is the key for us to “understand all”?

________________________________________________________

The word understand is used twice in verse 5, just as the word law is

in verse 4. The two verses are related: keeping the law (vs. 4) and seek-

ing the Lord (vs. 5) belong together. The scope of this activity, however,

is not just knowing and doing what is right (“justice” [vs. 5, NKJV]).

This understanding concerns “all” simply because it derives from the

God of “all.” For ancient Israel, knowledge of all things was not sepa-

rated from religious experience. Faith was closely tied to intelligence

and rational understanding. It was inconceivable to have faith without

thinking or thinking without faith, because God was the foundation of

both domains.

Why is faith in God such a rational position to hold? Why is

it more illogical and irrational to reject God than to believe in

Him?

Monday

Words for the Rich

Read

1 John 2:15–17. What are we being warned against here, and

how can we protect ourselves from the danger these verses talk

about?

________________________________________________________

Though the idea of what it means to be “rich” varies greatly, the book

of Proverbs comes with some instructions on how to get “rich” and then

how to deal with your “riches” once you get them.

1. Do not get rich at the expense of the poor (Prov. 28:8). Your wealth

is not justified if you obtain it at the expense of the poor. As we have

already seen, the Bible speaks very strongly against those who exploit

the poor for their own gain.

2. Give to the poor (Prov. 28:27). In contrast to the “greedy” of

Proverbs 28:25 (NIV, literally, “broad of soul/appetite”), the person who

is generous to the poor will be blessed.

3. Work hard (Prov. 28:19). Wealth should not come as the result of

stealing or by chance, but as a reward for our hard work. What is obtained

depends on the quality of our labor. If we are rich, we should deserve it.

4. Do not try to get rich fast (Prov. 28:20, 22). Our proverbs present

two potential scenarios: (1) when we close an eye to some dishonest

action and, as a result, become complicit in that action (vs. 22); (2)

when we are so eager to enjoy the wealth of our parents that we rob

them of what they need to live now (vs. 24). Even worse, those who do

those things can justify the wrong deeds in their own minds until they

convince themselves that they have done nothing wrong. Therefore,

they say, “it is no transgression” (NKJV).

Money is a very powerful force in this world, which is why the

Bible talks a lot about it. If, like pretty much everyone else, you

desire money, how can you make sure that you are not falling

into the trap of what Jesus called “the deceitfulness of riches”

(Mark 4:19)?

Tuesday

March 10

March 11

Handbook for the Poor

Read

Proverbs 29:13. What is being discussed here?

________________________________________________________

The poor and the rich are equal (Prov. 29:13, NKJV). The image of

light used in this proverb places this issue in perspective of Creation.

Both the rich and the poor have been created by God (Prov. 22:2). They

both enjoy the gift of life, and the sun shines upon both. Just as the rich

have been warned about how they treat the poor, the poor are to love even

their oppressors, which could in some cases be the rich (Matt. 5:44, 45).

What

is the message of Proverbs 28:3?

________________________________________________________

The poor have the same duties as the rich (Prov. 28:3). Poverty should

not be an excuse for iniquity. The fact that you may have been oppressed

does not give you license to oppress others. Jesus’ parable of the unfor-

giving servant who oppresses the one poorer than himself shows that this

reaction, although unexpected on the part of the poor (whom one might

think would be more sympathetic to other poor people), is not unusual

(Matt. 18:22–35). In Proverbs 28:3, the image of the rain, which usually

is a blessing, turns out to be a destructive torrent; this imagery illustrates

the abnormality of that behavior and the disappointment it brings.

What

is the message of Proverbs 28:6?

________________________________________________________

The righteous poor are better than the wicked rich (Prov. 28:6).

According to traditional wisdom, the righteous person is not supposed

to be poor, for poverty is supposedly the just punishment for the lazy

(Prov. 24:34). Yet, the reality of life is more complex. The poor may be

the victims of injustice or of circumstances beyond their control. This can

often be the case. Nevertheless, the scale of values defended by the book

of Proverbs is clear and unambiguous. Righteousness is more important

than riches, and success is not a foolproof indicator of righteousness.

What can we do when tempted to compromise our values for

material gain? How can we protect ourselves from doing some-

thing like this, which is easier to do than we realize?

Wedne sday

Loving the Truth

Of all the things we could teach our children, our students, or anyone

who is open to learning from us, perhaps the most important lesson can

be found here in 2 Thessalonians, as Paul, who is writing about the lost,

says that “they received not the love of the truth” (vs. 10). Of course,

because Jesus is the Truth, teaching others to love truth is teaching

them to love Jesus, and what else really matters?

“Whatever line of investigation we pursue, with a sincere purpose

to arrive at truth, we are brought in touch with the unseen, mighty

Intelligence that is working in and through all. The mind of man is

brought into communion with the mind of God, the finite with the

Infinite. The effect of such communion on body and mind and soul is

beyond estimate.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 14.

Read

Proverbs 29:15 (see also vs. 19). What important principle is seen

here, not just in education but in life in general?

________________________________________________________

Though our example is important—especially with those whom we

can’t reprove or punish—in some cases more is needed. This is espe-

cially true with our children. At times children need to be punished in

order to be brought into line.

Our natures are all fallen and corrupt, and this includes even those ador-

able little beings whom we love, our children. We don’t do our children or

ourselves any favors by letting them do whatever they want. Children, in

fact, not only need discipline—they want it. They need to know that bound-

aries exist, and that they need to stay within them. A mother who believes

that she has to respect her children’s freedom and lets them do whatever

they want without ever saying No to them, will ultimately bring “shame”

(vs. 15) to herself and, no doubt, sorrow to the children—if not now, then

certainly when the children become adults.

What are some of the lessons you learned as a child that have

stuck with you as an adult? How has that knowledge helped to

make your life better now?

Thurs day

March 12

March 13

Further Study:

“The laws of God have their foundation in the most im-

mutable rectitude, and are so framed that they will promote the happiness

of those who keep them. . . . Religion brings man into personal relation

with God, but not exclusively; for the principles of heaven are to be lived

out, that they may help and bless humanity.”—Ellen G. White, Sons and

Daughters of God, p. 267.

“The utter neglect of training children for God has perpetuated evil

and thrown into the ranks of the enemy many who with judicious care

might have been co-laborers with Christ. False ideas and a foolish,

misdirected affection have nurtured traits which have made the children

unlovely and unhappy, have embittered the lives of the parents, and

have extended their baleful influence from generation to generation.

Any child that is permitted to have his own way will dishonor God and

bring his father and mother to shame. . . . By neglecting their duty and

indulging their children in wrong, parents close to them the gates of

the city of God.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5,

pp. 325, 326.

Discussion Questions:

 Russian author Leo Tolstoy, though raised in a Christian

home, abandoned his faith for many years. When older, he faced

a crisis: What did life mean, especially a life that will certainly end

in death? Though he sought answers in all areas of knowledge,

he found none there. He eventually realized that the only logical

answer to the question of life and its meaning had to be found in

faith—in something that went beyond logic itself. That is, his logic

told him to step beyond logic, into the world of faith, in order to

get answers to the meaning of life. Why, then, is faith in Jesus

really the most logical choice we can make regarding the meaning

and purpose of life?

 What is your understanding of what it means to love the truth?

How do we love truth? To love truth, of course, would mean that

we would have to know it first. How do we come to a knowledge

of truth? And how can we be sure that we don’t allow anything to

stand in the way of our loving truth above all else?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

tory

inside

Kindness Always Comes Back

Miranda Starr, principal and teacher at Parkersburg Academy in West

Virginia, wanted to do an experiment with her first- and second-grade

students.

“In Bible class, we were studying about kindness, and how it is conta-

gious,” she says. “We wanted to see if it really works.”

Then Miranda had an idea; why not go to Eagle Pointe, a local nursing

home, where the students could practice their reading skills and make

friends with the residents? “This was something I had always wanted to

do,” she admits. “We like to sing, but [I wondered] what else could we

do for them to make relationships.”

The idea was a hit, and by January the students were reading well

enough to read on their own.

“We go to Eagle Pointe every other Friday,” explains eight-year-old

Ben. “We sing to the whole group, and we read to our partners.”

“It wasn’t hard to pick our partners,” chimes in seven-year-old Reagan.

“We saw them, looked at their faces, and then chose one because we

liked them!”

The students also get to choose the book or books that they want to

read to their partner and are welcome to exchange books with other

students if they finish their own.

As the students read, they are also developing friendships. “My part-

ner’s name is Miss Jane,” says six-year-old Sophia. “I was reading about

animal tracks, and I read about a red fox. She told me that she once had

a red fox as a pet!”

The residents clearly enjoy the visits and comment on what good read-

ers the students are. “I like seeing my partner smile,” Ben adds.

The students in grades three through eight also participate. “I really

like going there,” says nine-year-old Ryleigh. “There’s one man I read

to—Mark. He’s always happy to see me, and says, ‘God loves you.’ I

really like him and wish we could go more often.”

In appreciation of the students’ visits, Eagle Pointe held a banquet

in their honor and presented Miranda with an award plaque: “Junior

Volunteers of the Year—Parkersburg Academy. You’ve warmed the

hearts of many by the caring that you show. Volunteers are Shining

Stars.”

Reflecting on their kindness experiment, Miranda knows it was a suc-

cess. “Kindness did come back. We tried to give them joy, but they gave

more to us.”

The Humility of the Wise

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Proverbs 30, Luke 18:9–14, Job

38–40:2, 1 John 1:9, Rev. 3:14–18, Ps. 104:24.

Memory Text:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom

of heaven” (Matthew 5:3, NKJV).

n the Bible, humility is considered an important virtue. The greatest

of prophets, Moses, is singled out as the most humble person who

ever lived (Num. 12:3, NKJV). According to Micah 6:8, the main

duty that God expects from people is “to walk humbly with your God”

(NKJV). Jesus, too, insists that humility is an ideal that the Christian

should adopt: “ ‘Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the

greatest in the kingdom of heaven’ ” (Matt. 18:4, NKJV).

After all, what does anyone have to boast about? Every breath, every

heartbeat, every gift, every talent, comes only from God, in whom “we

live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). And in light of the

cross, even all our righteousness is as “filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6); how,

then, can we boast?

This week Proverbs looks at humility; considering our situation, how

foolish is it to be anything but humble?

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 21.

*March 14–20

Lesso n

March 15

Who Do You Think You Are?

Read

Proverbs 30:1–3, 32, 33. Together, what are they saying?

________________________________________________________

The self-negation seen in these texts is quite a break from the usual

self-exaltation of kings in the ancient Near East, who often liked to

boast of their wisdom, achievements, and military victories. Solomon

himself is recorded as surpassing “all the kings of the earth in riches

and wisdom” (1 Kings 10:23, NKJV; Eccles. 2:9). And then, of course,

there’s Nebuchadnezzar, who proclaimed: “ ‘Is not this the great

Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and

for the glory of my majesty?’ ” (Dan. 4:30, NIV).

Because our author understands his own ignorance, he calls boast-

ing “foolish.” The Hebrew word for “foolish” here is nabal, which is

the name of Nabal, whose behavior exemplified foolish pride, as well

(1 Samuel 25). Such boasting, which implies pride, also carries the

potential for humiliation and thus, for anger and strife. The apostle

Paul also called some of his church members “fools” who considered

themselves wise and were, even worse, boasting about it (2 Cor.

11:18, 19).

Read

Luke 18:9–14. Why might it be easier to be like the Pharisee

than one might think? How can we make sure that we don’t fall

into this same trap even in the subtlest ways?

________________________________________________________

You have to feel sorry for people who boast (usually it’s a cover for

insecurities, anyway); it shows just how self-deceived and foolish they

really are.

sunday

March 16

A Knowledge of God?

Pride arises in those who don’t know the Lord in a personal way. In

contrast, the person who lives in communion with God will be humble,

for he or she is constantly in touch with the One who is infinitely

greater than any of us. When we think about the size of the universe

and realize that we are worshiping the One who created that universe,

and that this same God suffered in the person of Jesus on the cross for

us—it’s hard to imagine how we could struggle with pride while keep-

ing these thoughts before us.

Read

Proverbs 30:3–6. What do these verses tell us about the power,

majesty, and mystery of God?

________________________________________________________

The expression “knowledge of God” is to be understood as meaning

“knowledge about God.” Five rhetorical questions are then asked, which

force us to recognize just how much about God we really don’t understand.

Read

those questions in Proverbs 30:4. What challenge do they present

to us?

________________________________________________________

Because God is the Creator (the first four questions), He remains far

beyond our understanding (the fifth question). In the book of Job, God

challenges Job with the same questions so that Job would realize that

he could not comprehend God or His ways (Job 38–40:2).

The fact that God is the Creator, and that we cannot fully understand

Him, gives us a crucial lesson regarding how we should receive His

written revelation, which scholars are always questioning. Who are

we—whose understanding of even the simplest things in nature is

clouded and full of mystery—to challenge the Word of God, even the

parts that baffle or disturb us?

Dwell on the grandeur and mystery of the creation itself. What

should these tell us about the grandeur and mystery of the Creator?

Why should this grandeur and mystery give us comfort and hope?

Monday

Neither Too Much nor Too Little

Proverbs 30:7–9 contains the only prayer in the book of Proverbs. It

is not by chance that this request immediately follows the affirmation

of God as the great Creator (Prov. 30:4) and the promise of His faith-

fulness (vs. 5).

Read

Proverbs 30:7–9. Why would someone ask these things?

________________________________________________________

Before we ask God for anything, it is important to make sure our

relationship with Him is solid. If we lie, then we act as if God, who

knows all things, doesn’t even exist. This is why the confession of

our sin is a prerequisite for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). We cannot cheat

God; He sees us exactly as we are. As we pray, the dramatic gesture of

prostration, lying in the dust like the dead (Lam. 3:29), reveals not only

our reverence and humility, but shows an awareness of our spiritual

nakedness before Him.

In Proverbs 30:8, the writer asks God to “give” neither poverty nor

riches. The first time that the verb “give” is used in the Bible in relation

to humans, it deals with God’s gift of food (Gen. 1:29). This is why in

many cultures food is traditionally associated with prayer. This basic

need, which makes us so dependent on the God of Creation, places the

experience of prayer at the core of our survival.

The two requests do not aim just at the balance of human character.

They converge in one goal: the glory of God. If we get too little, we

tend to steal and insult God; if we get too much, we do not feel the need

for God and may even deny His existence. It is noteworthy, however,

that only the latter predicament can lead to a disconnect from God; the

former will likely keep us in touch with Him.

The Lord’s Prayer carries the same twofold concern: (1) “Give us this

day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11) provides for our needs and not more;

and (2) “ ‘Do not lead us into temptation’ ” (vs. 13, NKJV) takes care

of our needs.

Think about just how dependent you are on God. How can keep-

ing that stark fact ever in your mind help you grow in faith?

What dangers come when we forget this dependence?

Tuesday

March 17

100

March 18

The Actions of the Arrogant

Just as humility is positive and brings blessings, a lack of humility

is dangerous and brings curses. After having encouraged the virtue of

humility by showing its rewards and fruit, Proverbs 30 gives a stern

warning about the dangers that come from pride.

Cursing your parents (Prov. 30:11, 17). Agur begins with this cat-

egory, for it represents the most serious act of arrogance, when children

despise their source of life. Significantly, honoring and blessing one’s

parents is the only commandment associated with the promise of life

(Exod. 20:12; Eph. 6:2, 3), while the death penalty is prescribed for its

transgression (Exod. 21:15, 17).

Self-righteousness (Prov. 30:12, 20). The condition of sinners who

think of themselves as righteous is bad, because they will stay in their

sin, believing that they are pure and don’t need forgiveness. This is

why the confession of sin is so fundamental to obtaining forgiveness

(1 John 1:9). The Laodiceans, who claim that they are rich, intelligent,

and well dressed (though unaware that they are poor, blind, and naked),

are counseled to acquire from God the means to repair their miserable

condition (Rev. 3:14–18).

“Here is represented a people who pride themselves in their pos-

session of spiritual knowledge and advantages. But they have not

responded to the unmerited blessings that God has bestowed upon

them. They have been full of rebellion, ingratitude, and forgetfulness

of God; and still He has dealt with them as a loving, forgiving father

deals with an ungrateful, wayward son. They have resisted His grace,

abused His privileges, slighted His opportunities, and have been satis-

fied to sink down in contentment, in lamentable ingratitude, hollow

formalism, and hypocritical insincerity.”—Ellen G. White, Faith and

Works, p. 83.

Contempt (Prov. 30:13, 14). The picture presented of the arrogant is

not pretty. Though they have a proud look on their face, the arrogance

doesn’t remain just there: it is manifested in the contempt they reveal

to those who they feel are below them. The imagery of the “fangs” and

“teeth” (vs. 14, NKJV) show just how bad their actions are.

Think about how you have treated others, particularly those to

whom you might even feel superior (most of us have those feel-

ings at times, do we not?). How can you make it right? How can

you display the humility needed to make it right?

Wedne sday

101

Lessons From Nature

All through the Bible, imagery from nature has been used to teach

spiritual truths. Here, too, using nature, the proverb teaches us lessons

about humility.

Read

Proverbs 30:18, 19. What is it saying here, too, about the limits

of human understanding?

________________________________________________________

Agur sees mystery in even many of the “common” things. It is a very

fascinating mix of mysteries that he presents here. The first two are

from animals: an eagle silently moving through the sky, a snake silently

moving along the earth. He then shifts to two human actions: a ship on

the sea, and a man with a woman. Even today, with all our scientific

knowledge, so many mysteries remain. How crucial it is that we never

lose our appreciation for the depth and majesty of life. That attitude

will surely help keep us humble before God.

Read

Proverbs 30:24–28. What other mysteries from nature catch the

author’s attention and awe?

________________________________________________________

It’s interesting that the immediately preceding verses (Prov. 30:20–23)

deal with human folly, arrogance, and vice. He then shifts to the animal

world, pointing to small and humble creatures, even though he uses

the same Hebrew word for “wise” in reference to them that is used in

reference to humans (Prov. 3:13) and even God Himself (Job 12:13,

Ps. 104:24). Even today, with all our advances in science, how these

creatures do what they do remains beyond our full comprehension. How

much more so their actions must have baffled this wise man in his time.

And he was indeed wise, because one of the great signs of wisdom is to

acknowledge just how little we know, even about the commonest things.

Think about some of the “simplest” things in nature: the leaf of

a tree, a drop of water, a seashell. How should the fact that even

these things are full of mysteries keep us humble?

Thurs day

March 19

102

March 20

Further Study:

“We should reverence God’s word. For the printed

volume we should show respect, never putting it to common uses, or

handling it carelessly. And never should Scripture be quoted in a jest,

or paraphrased to point a witty saying. ‘Every word of God is pure’; ‘as

silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.’ Proverbs 30:5;

Psalm 12:6.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 244.

“Christ’s first words to the people on the mount were words of bless-

ing. Happy are they, He said, who recognize their spiritual poverty, and

feel their need of redemption. The gospel is to be preached to the poor.

Not to the spiritually proud, those who claim to be rich and in need of

nothing, is it revealed, but to those who are humble and contrite. . . . The

Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until, convinced of his

own weakness, and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to

the control of God. Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to

bestow. From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld. He has

unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells.”—Ellen G.

White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 299, 300.

Discussion Questions:

 Dwell on the plan of salvation and what was required to save

us. That is, we are so fallen, so corrupt, so evil, that mere regenera-

tion would not be enough to redeem us from sin. No matter how

much we are changed and restored, that regeneration and resto-

ration cannot save us. We need a substitute, someone who legally

stands in our place and whose righteousness alone is enough to

make us right with God. What should this reality itself tell us

about why arrogance and pride have to be some of the worst sins

in fallen beings like us?

 What are some of the different ways that our very existence

depends upon God? What are the things in nature itself that show

us how God sustains our existence?

 Dwell more on the prayer in Proverbs 30:7–9. Look at the bal-

ance there. How do we find balance in all that we do? Why is this

so important?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

103

tory

inside

Thrice Saved

At the age of four, Jesse lost his mother. By the time he was nine, Jesse

lived in foster homes. As a teen, he met a young man who played bas-

ketball. When Jesse shared his name, the young man looked surprised.

“Your mother and my father were brother and sister!”

Taking Jesse home, the cousin introduced him to the rest of the fam-

ily. That’s when Jesse learned that his mother had died of complications

caused by his father’s beatings.

Jesse moved in with his uncle; and as his anger over his circum-

stances simmered, he joined the U.S. Air National Guard then switched

to the U.S. Marines. He married, had three children, but later divorced.

“I felt hurt and empty inside,” he recalled. “Once more I had no family

and felt completely alone.”

Feeling life wasn’t worth living, Jesse took his rifle and ammunition

down to the beach with plans to end his life. Wading into the sea, he

sat down on a rock. Soon a police officer came, but Jesse raised his

rifle, warning him to stay away. Then the colonel from the Marine base

arrived, ordering him to put the gun down. Jesse refused. But when he

saw his father approaching, Jesse put the gun into his mouth and pulled

the trigger. There was an explosion and he fell backward—still alive.

The bullet had jammed halfway through the barrel.

Jesse was discharged from the Marines and tried again to commit

suicide. This time he ended up in the hospital emergency room where

he met Dr. Nozaki, a Seventh-day Adventist physician determined to

save him. When he awoke after surgery, Jesse found a Bible by his bed,

placed there by Dr. Nozaki. He hid the Bible, but each day he found

another one.

When Jesse was released from the hospital, Dr. Nozaki urged him to

read the book of John. Finally, Jesse agreed. The doctor called him each

day, making sure that he had food and clothing. In time, Jesse realized

that Dr. Nozaki really cared, and he learned to trust him. He started Bible

studies, and the doctor invited him to church.

One day Jesse returned to the rock where he had tried to kill himself

and thanked God for saving his life. He continued studying and was

baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “For the first time in

my life,” he said, “I felt peace.”

Later, with the doctor’s encouragement, Jesse and his wife reconciled.

They remarried in Dr. Nozaki’s home.

104

Women and Wine

Sabbath afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study:

Proverbs 31, Job 29:15, Prov-

erbs 8, 1 Cor. 1:21, Rev. 14:13.

Memory Text:

“Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to

that which destroys kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for

kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink” (Proverbs

31:3, 4, NKJV).

he book of Proverbs began with the teachings of a father (Prov.

1:1, 8; 4:1) and ends with the teachings of a mother (Prov. 31:1).

The name Lemuel may allude to Solomon; if so, then Lemuel’s

mother is Solomon’s mother, and she warns her son against the two

most serious threats to the king: wine and women.

The association of wine and women is deliberate. To be efficient as

a ruler, the king has to be careful of the influences he faces, and these

two factors can be very powerful. Though the right woman could be

beneficial, alcohol is only trouble.

The father’s introduction was concerned with the spiritual acquisition

of wisdom. Now, the mother’s conclusion is concerned with applying

wisdom in real life. For the spiritual principles taught by the father

would mean nothing if the practical advice offered by the mother were

not followed.

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 28.

*March 21–27

Lesso n

105

March 22

A Toast “To Life”?

In many cultures, drinking alcohol is associated with living a good

life. People raise a glass and wish one another a long life, though the

irony is that each glass works toward destroying life. Nicely designed

bottles, poetic and funny drinking songs, clever commercials, and even

some “scientific” findings all comfort drinkers in their idea that alcohol

is good for them. Proverbs has already warned us against this deadly

deception (Prov. 23:30–35). Now the theme reappears, showing us even

more damage that drinking can bring.

Read

Proverbs 31:4, 5, 8, 9. Together, what do they say, and how does

their message apply to every follower of the Lord, not just the king?

________________________________________________________

In similar language, Job describes himself as being “eyes to the blind,

and . . . feet to the lame” (Job 29:15, NKJV). Likewise, the king or

those with means should help support the poor and the needy—those

who are “speechless” in that they don’t have a voice because no one

listens to them.

The destructive effect of wine can also be seen in how it can so easily

distort one’s judgment. While alcohol is bad enough for common folk,

for a king or someone with power, alcohol can create terrible situations.

The drinking king not only “forgets the law” and does not know what

is right, but he subsequently issues distorted judgments: the guilty are

declared innocent, and the innocent guilty.

What is at stake here is the capacity to discern between right and

wrong, good and evil. The prohibition of wine drinking has to do with

basic wisdom and, as such, should apply to every human being. It is

noteworthy that this concern is precisely the reason implied in the

special prohibition of drinking for the priest: “that you may distinguish

between holy and unholy” (Lev. 10:9, 10, NKJV).

Who hasn’t seen the devastating effects of alcohol in so many

lives? How can you help others, especially the young, stay clear of

what can bring only harm to them and to others?

sunday

106

March 23

A Toast “To Death”

Read

Proverbs 31:6, 7. How are we to understand these texts?

________________________________________________________

A quick reading of these verses gives the impression that Lemuel’s

mother allows the consumption of wine or any other alcohol for the

person who is about to die (vs. 6) or for the person who suffers from

depression (vs. 7). This reading, however, would contradict not only the

immediate context—Lemuel’s mother has just warned the king against

wine drinking—but also the general context of the book of Proverbs,

which systematically and emphatically prohibits wine drinking.

In addition, it hardly makes sense to offer something to the perish-

ing that would only make their health and well-being worse. And giv-

ing alcohol to a depressed person is like giving salt to someone who

is already dehydrated. If, as we know, God cares about our bodies

and our health, it doesn’t make sense to see these texts, especially in

context, encouraging the use of alcohol.

More important, an analysis of the use of the expression “who is

perishing” in the book of Proverbs reveals that it is speaking about

the wicked (Prov. 10:28; 11:7, 10; 19:9; 21:28; 28:28). Through the

expression “who is perishing,” Lemuel’s mother points in fact, by

association, to the wicked. As for the expression “bitter of heart,”

it refers to the depressed person (Prov. 31:6, NKJV), who, like the

wicked, becomes insensitive and “forgets” poverty (vs. 7).

“Satan gathered the fallen angels together to devise some way of

doing the most possible evil to the human family. One proposition

after another was made, till finally Satan himself thought of a plan.

He would take the fruit of the vine, also wheat, and other things given

by God as food, and would convert them into poisons, which would

ruin man’s physical, mental, and moral powers, and so overcome

the senses that Satan should have full control. Under the influence

of liquor, men would be led to commit crimes of all kinds. Through

perverted appetite the world would be made corrupt. By leading men

to drink alcohol, Satan would cause them to descend lower and lower

in the scale.”—Ellen G. White, Temperance, p. 12.

Monday

107

A Virtuous Woman

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above

rubies” (Prov. 31:10).

Who is the “virtuous woman” of Proverbs 31:10? A number of indi-

cations suggest that the author has more in mind than a godly woman or

the ideal wife. Following the lead of many passages of the book (Prov.

1:20–33, 3:13–20, 4:5–9, Proverbs 8), we have good reason to think

that “the virtuous woman” represents wisdom. This personification of

wisdom as a woman is justified not only because the Hebrew word for

“wisdom,” chokmah, is a feminine noun but also because it allows the

Hebrew writer to draw all kinds of concrete lessons for our daily life.

Wisdom is not pictured as some lofty and unreachable ideal but as a

very practical and approachable woman who could become our life

companion.

This last teaching about wisdom is given through a beautiful acrostic

poem: each verse begins with a Hebrew letter following the alphabetic

order, as in the book of Lamentations and in many psalms.

Compare

the text on wisdom in Proverbs 8 with our text on the

“virtuous woman.” What features of the “virtuous woman” remind

us of wisdom in the book of Proverbs?

________________________________________________________

1. She is precious and worth finding (Prov. 31:10, 8:35).

2. Her worth is more than rubies (Prov. 31:10; 8:10, 11, 18, 19).

3. She provides food (Prov. 31:14, 8:19).

4. She is strong (Prov. 31:17, 25; 8:14).

5. She is wise (Prov. 31:26, 8:1).

6. She is praised (Prov. 31:28, 8:34).

Though we live in the so-called information age, and though we have

acquired so much more knowledge than had previous generations, there’s

little to indicate that our generation is any wiser than previous genera-

tions. Indeed, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We have guided missiles

and misguided men.”

Read 1 Corinthians 1:21. What does it say to you, and how can

this idea help you live by faith?

Tuesday

March 24

108

March 25

She Works

The virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 is not lazy; she works hard and

is very active. The poem insists on this quality (Prov. 31:27), which

characterizes the wise versus the fool (Prov. 6:6; 24:33, 34). The field

of her activities is comprehensive and concrete. To be spiritual does not

mean that we should be idle, all under the pretext that we are concerned

with highly important religious issues, and thus do not have time to

take care of “trivial” matters. (See Luke 16:10.) The woman “willingly

works with her hands” (Prov. 31:13, NKJV). It is interesting that this

very spiritual person is never depicted praying or meditating. She is

shown only as an efficient and productive woman, like Martha of the

Gospels (Luke 10:38–40).

Read

Proverbs 31:12, 15, 18. Why is the woman always working?

________________________________________________________

The woman works “all the days of her life” (vs. 12), even during the

night (vs. 15, 18). Her active and watchful presence is effective all the

time. The reason for her constant attention is her responsibility.

Read

Proverbs 31:20, 25. What is the temporal scope of her projects?

________________________________________________________

Here we touch on an important point regarding our work and effort:

it will be tested by time. Only the future will testify to the quality of

our deeds. To work wisely is to work with the future in mind, not just

for an immediate reward.

Though not quite dealing with the same thing, the principle in the fol-

lowing text from Revelation is so important: “Blessed are the dead which

die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest

from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:13).

If you have a special woman (a wife, mother, family member,

teacher, boss, or friend) in your life, what can you do to show

your appreciation for her and for all she has done for you?

Wedne sday

109

She Cares

Read

Proverbs 31:26–31. What other important characteristics are

seen in this woman? Why are these important for all of us, regard-

less of who we are?

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As we have seen all through this quarter, an emphasis is placed on

words, on what we say. The woman is known for her wisdom and for

her kindness. They are related. After all, couldn’t one argue that kind-

ness is another form of wisdom, especially when we understand that

wisdom isn’t just what we know but what we say and do?

Notice, too, the phrase the “law of kindness.” That is, kindness isn’t

just some fleeting attribute that escapes from her mouth now and then.

It is a law, a principle of her very existence. How powerful it would be

if the “law of kindness” were to guide all that came out of our mouths.

Read

Proverbs 31:30. What important point is revealed here that is so

often forgotten?

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All too often women are rated only in terms of outward appearance;

that’s such a shallow and superficial marker. The Bible points out just

how “vain,” how empty, that kind of attitude ultimately is. This woman’s

true beauty is found in her character and how that character is made

manifest in her life and works. Beauty will always pass away; character

can endure forever. “A great name among men is as letters traced in

sand, but a spotless character will endure to all eternity.”—Ellen G.

White, God’s Amazing Grace, p. 81.

In what areas of your life do you need to see your character

improve? Praying about it is fine, but what concrete positive

steps must you take in order to see growth?

Thurs day

March 26

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March 27

Further

Study:

“When indulging their appetite for wine and

while under its exciting stimulus, their reason was clouded, and they

could not discern the difference between the sacred and the common.

Contrary to God’s express direction, they dishonored Him by offering

common instead of sacred fire. God visited them with His wrath; fire

went forth from His presence and destroyed them.”—Ellen G. White,

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 295.

“Let the children and youth learn from the Bible how God has hon-

ored the work of the everyday toiler. . . . Let them read . . . of the

wise woman described in the Proverbs, who ‘seeketh wool and flax,

and worketh willingly with her hands;’ who ‘giveth meat to her house-

hold, and their task to her maidens;’ who ‘planteth a vineyard,’ ‘and

strengtheneth her arms;’ who ‘stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea,

. . . reacheth forth her hands to the needy;’ who ‘looketh well to the

ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.’ Proverbs

31:13, 15, R.V.; 31:16, 17, 20, 27.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 217.

Discussion Questions:

 Why is total abstinence from alcohol the only right option?

After all, what possible good can arise from any kind of alcohol

consumption? On the other hand, think about all the damage that

it often causes.

 Dwell more on the idea that although we have a lot of knowl-

edge for our time, we don’t necessarily have more wisdom. In what

ways can knowledge without wisdom be even more dangerous

than a lack of knowledge without wisdom? What are some recent

examples we can see of just how damaging knowledge without

wisdom can be?

 Review the characteristics of the “virtuous woman.” How can

the principles behind what is revealed in this specific situation be

applied to believers, whatever their gender, marital status, or age?

 The book of Proverbs is filled with practical wisdom. This

should tell us that our religion, even with all its lofty theology and

spiritual dimensions, has a very practical side to it, as well. How

can we make sure that we don’t neglect the practical aspects of

faith as we seek to fulfill its theological and spiritual dimensions?

Fri day

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org

111

tory

inside

“Sabbath Shoes”

Becky needed a new pair of shoes. Going to her favorite shop near

Newport Beach, California, she picked out a pair but discovered her size

wasn’t in stock.

Dwight McKeever, the sales rep, assured her that her size could be

ordered, and the shoes would be in by Wednesday afternoon.

Becky returned on Wednesday, but the shoes hadn’t arrived. On Thursday,

still no shoes. When Becky came into the shop late Friday afternoon,

Dwight explained that the delivery truck hadn’t arrived but would any time

soon. Becky waited a few more minutes, but then said she had to go. Fifteen

minutes after she left the store, the shoes arrived.

Quickly phoning Becky’s home, Dwight left a message. Sometime later,

she returned his call, explaining that she would wear her old shoes the next

day and pick up the new ones on Saturday night.

Just a few minutes later, Becky returned to the store. “I just came to let

you know that I’m not angry that the shoes didn’t arrive on time and that

I’m very impressed with all you’ve done to help solve this problem.” Then

she turned to leave.

“But what about your shoes?” Dwight asked. “I’ll get them tomorrow

night,” came the response as Becky walked out the door. Thinking that

maybe she needed money, Dwight offered her a loan, but money wasn’t

the problem. Frustrated, Dwight couldn’t understand what the problem was.

Finally Becky explained, “I’m a Christian. I want to honor God on the

Sabbath.”

“Sabbath?” The only Sabbath Dwight knew of was the rock group Black

Sabbath.

“I’m a Christian too,” he told her, “but what does that have to do with

buying shoes?”

“If you’re a Christian,” she replied with a smile, “then you know that the

Ten Commandments tell us to keep the Sabbath holy and that means we

shouldn’t buy or sell.”

Intrigued, Dwight wanted to learn more. Becky invited him to a

Revelation Seminar being held nearby, and he accepted. “I had picked up

the Bible a few times and wanted to know how it would all end, so I went

straight to the last book but couldn’t understand a thing,” he recalls. “There

was a beast with all these heads, but I wasn’t too worried because I knew

with nuclear warfare we could just blow up all those heads.”

When he told that to Becky, she laughed. “You might want to come to the

seminar and learn what it’s really all about.”

To see how Becky’s faithfulness led Dwight and many of his family to

accept Bible truth, continue reading the story in Mission magazine, for first

quarter 2015, or online at www.adventistmission.org/mqa-home.

112

Bible Study Guide for the Second Quarter

Luke, a Gentile convert and doctor, directed his Gospel account

to Greek and Gentile members of the community of faith while

not disregarding the Jewish roots of Jesus. Luke presents Jesus,

the Son of man, as the Savior of the world and friend of humanity.

We will study his account in our second quarter 2015 study guide,

entitled The Book of Luke by John M. Fowler. The universality

of salvation is the underlying theme of his Gospel, and so Luke’s

genealogy traces Jesus all the way to Adam and links Him to God.

Luke’s Gospel is the largest in the New Testament, and it contains

six miracles and 13 parables that are unique to its account. Some

theologians have recommended the book of Luke as a good biogra-

phy of our Lord Jesus. So as a world church, the book of Luke will

be the focus of our study for second quarter 2015.

Lesson 1

—The Coming of Jesus

The Week at a Glance:

S: “An Orderly Account” (Luke 1:1–3, Acts 1:1–3)

M: “Call His Name John” (Luke 1:13–17)

T: “Call His Name Jesus” (Luke 1:31)

W: The Manger of Bethlehem (Luke 2:7)

T: The Witnesses to the Savior (Luke 2:25–32)

Memory Text—Luke 1:37, NKJV

Sabbath Gem:

Luke’s readers must stand in awe and wonder at

the fact that Jesus is real, and that through Him, God has invaded his-

tory with the “ ‘Savior, who is Christ the Lord’ ” (Luke 2:11, NKJV).

Lesson 2

—Baptism and the Temptations

The Week at a Glance:

S: Prepare the Way of the Lord (Luke 3:1–14)

M: “You Are My Beloved Son” (Luke 3:21, 22)

T: Not by “Bread Alone” (Luke 4:4)

W: “Worship Me” (Luke 4:5–8)

T: Christ the Victor (Luke 4:9–13)

Memory Text—Luke 3:22, NKJV

Sabbath Gem:

Jesus was baptized and received the benediction

of Heaven that He is God’s “beloved son” (Luke 3:22) and began His

ministry at the time when the Roman Empire was being ruled by

great historical dignitaries.

Lessons for the Visually Impaired

The regular Adult Sabbath School

Bible Study Guide is available free each month in braille and on audio CD to sight-

impaired and physically handicapped persons who cannot read normal ink print. This

includes individuals who, because of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, accident,

and so forth, cannot hold or focus on normal ink-print publications. Contact Christian

Record Services for the Blind, Box 6097, Lincoln, NE 68506-0097. Phone: 402-488-

0981; e-mail: info@christianrecord.org; Web site: www.christianrecord.org.

2015